Do you go to bed early and feel like you benefit from a decent night’s rest, yet you still wake up tired? How about having difficulty concentrating, a sore throat in the morning, suffer from high blood pressure, or deal with gasping or choking at night? If any of these are you, the cause may not be as mysterious as you think. Instead, it could be the result of snoring through the night.
Snoring is the sound that people make when they are sleeping from the way the relaxed tissues in their throat make noise as air flows through the airway. The sound occurs because the tissues vibrate and they breathe. For some people, snoring is whisper-light, and for others, it is loud enough to be irritating or wake others. There are tons of reasons why people snore, but four of the top reasons may be:
Smoking
Scientific studies have shown that there is a correlation between smoking and an increased risk of snoring. The correlation is because smoking, including cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco, can inflame the throat area. That inflammation (swelling) can lead to post-nasal drip and cause the airways to become more narrow.
There is also a correlation between tobacco smoking and obstructive sleep apnea, described as a condition in which you don’t breathe as usual. In contrast, your sleep gets disrupted because of upper airway obstruction. A sleep apnea snoring dentist can diagnose and get patients fitted for appliances based on technology for a better and safer night’s sleep. Doctors advise patients to quit smoking to increase their life expectancy, lower their risk of disease, and their risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.
Overweight
Excess weight can cause problems in almost every area of our lives. That makes it evident that being overweight is unhealthy. Overweight or obesity is when you have a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30.0.
Snoring in obese people occurs because neck fat is compressed on the upper airway when overweight people lie down. In addition, midriff fat, known as central obesity, can also compress the upper airway and cause snoring.
Weight and snoring are a back-and-forth saga. While being overweight causes snoring, snoring can also cause weight gain. That is because snorers don’t get a good night’s sleep. That kind of sleep deprivation causes issues with their hormones, which create increased cravings for calorie-rich foods.
Chronic nasal congestion
Nasal congestion is the result of swollen nasal tissue. It can be caused by:
- Allergies
- Nasal polyps
- Chemical exposures
- Sinus infections
- A deviated septum
- Pregnancy
- Environmental irritants
Symptoms of nasal congestion are a stuffy nose, sinus pain, swollen nasal tissue, or mucus buildup. All of that congestion in the nose can cause swelling of the throat, which restricts airflow and causes snoring. Therefore, it is typical for people who suffer from chronic nasal congestion to use decongestants and nasal steroids (sprays) to treat the congestion, which will help with snoring.
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol relaxes the body, and it also affects your body while you sleep. For example, when drinking alcohol, your throat and mouth muscles relax, and that relaxation has an impact on your sleep.
The alcohol works to make your muscles so relaxed that they no longer keep your throat’s airways open and clear. Instead, they are blocking your air passage. That means while you sleep, you are forcing air through the tight airways. Snoring is the result of that forced air trying to come through.
Between the weight and gravity that affect the resistance of the respiratory system while sleeping, those drinking alcohol who don’t usually snore can raise that resistance by four to five times. The resistance of those who may snore a bit gets increased to up to eight times more which are dangerous levels.
Conclusion
Snoring is the sound that people make when they are sleeping, and the relaxed tissues in their throat make noise as air flows. The sound occurs because the tissues vibrate and you breathe. For some people, snoring is whisper-light, and for others, it is loud enough to be irritating or wake others.
There are many reasons that people snore. However, the four top reasons are smoking, being overweight, chronic nasal congestion, and drinking alcohol.
