It has been much said that snoring is often caused by over-indulgence on the pleasures of life. While it is true in most cases, there are however, some other causes of it not rooted from vices. The following are some causes of snoring that if prevented, can give you a peaceful and quiet nights rest.
- Overeating- Lack of exercise or gaining of a significant increase in weight can be a common cause of snoring. This is due to the fact that when we gain weight, fat can easily accumulate in the throat and neck areas. When this happens, our throat and necks lacks the muscle tone to keep the airways open. As a result, the airways collapse and becomes squeezed which becomes a problem for the air passing through. Tightening of the airways prevents the airways from flowing in and out freely.
- Alcohol and Sleeping pills- Alcohol intake as well as other medications travels to all areas of the body. They also slow the brains responses and relaxes our body. Relaxation from medications and alcohol intake causes certain parts of our throat, the oropharynx to be exact, to fall down on our throat and block proper flow of the airways. They can also irritate our airways and cause nasal congestion which also causes inflammations to our airways.
- Smoking- Similar to alcohol, the problem lies within how cigarette irritates the linings of our throat and nasal cavity causing it to swell. Difficulty in breathing stems from the inflammation of the throat since the airways are restricted. Even second hand smoke is proven to cause snoring since they likewise promote irritation to the throat of anyone able to ingest the smoke.
- Sleeping Positions- Body positions becomes an important factor when sleeping. Those who sleep on their back are more prone to snoring. This is because gravity increases the tendency in which the tongue and soft palate falls on our throat.
- Allergies- Particularly, allergic rhinitis. Common symptoms include nasal congestions, itching, sneezing, post nasal drips, and rhinorrhea. These symptoms lead to a disordered sleep pattern and promote snoring as well. Respiratory allergy is also one leading cause of snoring since they, too, narrow the airways due to inflammation.
- Nasal stuffiness- aside from allergies, nasal stuffiness is another cause of snoring that’s caused by irritations with our nose. When they become irritated, we tend to breathe through our mouths which increases the chances of our snoring.
- Nostril Collapse- Breathing properly, either through our mouth or nose, is another factor of snoring. During sleep, our body is designed to automatically breathe through the nose. If, for any reason, breathing is not possible through the nose, our self-preservation mechanism forces us to breathe through the mouth. Breathing through the nose for some may be difficult. The size of nostrils, nasal obstruction, nocturnal nasal, and nasal collapse may just be a few causes why some people find it difficult to do so.