The Facts about What Causes Snoring. Know these to help it cure better
Millions of people deal with snoring on a daily basis. In some cases, they’re keeping their
partners awake, and in others it’s the other way round where their partners are keeping them awake. If you’re like
these people, you may have never actually wondered – or even cared – about what causes snoring.
Chances are you just wanted it to stop, and you may be expecting it to happen on its own. In order to stop snoring,
though, you need to understand what causes snoring first.
What Causes Snoring?
Just as there’s no one “magic cure” for snoring, there’s also no one cause of snoring. In general,
causes of snoring can be several different things.
1. Anatomy
 A person’s anatomy is one of the main reasons for
snoring. Generally, any type of airway obstruction can cause snoring. These obstructions can result in
narrowing of air passages, which inturn may vibrate when a person breathes in or out, causing the
characteristic snoring sound. Common airway obstructions include an enlarged uvula and enlarged tonsils.
People with naturally narrow airways are therefore more prone to snoring.
2. Weight
Overweight people are typically more likely to be snorers. This is because fatty deposits
tend to accumulate around the neck and throat.
3. Sleeping Position
People who sleep on their backs are usually more likely to snore than people
who sleep in other positions, since this makes it easier for muscles and tissues around the throat to
collapse.
4. Age
Studies have shown that older people do tend to snore more than younger people. As we age,
the muscles around the throat, like all muscles, become less toned, causing them to become rather slack. These
loose tissues then vibrate and cause snoring sound as a person breathes in.
5. Alcohol and Medications
Alcohol and medicines, particularly cold medicines, have also been known
to cause snoring. These can often cause the muscles in the body to relax, resulting in slack tissue in the
throat, which can cause snoring.
6. Nasal and Sinus Problems
Any type of abnormality or illness in the nasal
passages or sinuses is extremely likely to cause snoring. This can include anything from a common cold to a
slightly deviated septum.
Snoring Differences in the Genders
The majority of people who snore can usually blame their
problem on one of the above reasons. A person’s gender, however, might also be a determining factor as to
whether they snore or not.
Scientists have proven that men are more likely to be regular snorers. There are a few different theories about
what causes snoring in men. For example, some scientists claim that men have narrower airways than
women, which can cause snoring. One reason why men snore more than women, though, may simply lie in the fact that
men typically don’t take care of their bodies as well as women do. This can lead to health problems associated with
snoring.
Women are not completely out when it comes to snoring though. Some
women, for instance, may snore just as loudly as men do, due to any of the above-mentioned reasons. Hormones are
often blamed when one asks about what causes snoring in women. Pregnant
women are more likely to snore too. The increased levels of estrogen in their bodies can cause the soft tissues in
the throat to swell or puff up slightly, which can increase the odds of snoring. Some scientists, however, have
theorized that women may snore just as much as men – they’re just less likely to admit it.
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