What Causes Snoring?

Snoring is caused when air cannot flow through the back of the throat and the nose freely. Though snoring can affect anyone, it is most common in men and people who are overweight. The obstruction causes the noisy, vibrating sounds of snoring. The air flow can be obstructed for a variety of reasons, such as:

• The Anatomy of your Mouth – Anatomical reasons, such as a low palate, poor muscle tone in the throat, poor muscle tone in the tongue and narrow airways can cause snoring.
• Obstruction of Nasal Airways – About 20 percent of people who snore only snore during allergy seasons due to nasal obstructions or when they have a cold or sinus infection. Having a deviated septum or nasal polyps can also cause the nasal airway to have an obstruction.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea – OSA is the most serious cause of snoring. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is when airway obstruction during sleep results in short periods of time where the snorer stops breathing. OSA is often linked to sleep deprivation, heart attack, irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure.
• Alcohol Consumption – Drinking alcohol before sleep can relax your throat muscles and decrease your defenses against airway obstruction.

Sleep Apnea

Learn more about sleep apnea and treating the symptoms.

Author Dr. Geoffrey B. Trenkle, D.O. LACENTA C.E.O.