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Common Causes of Snoring

According to MedicineNet.com, snoring is a sleep disorder that regularly affects approximately 45 percent of men and 30 percent of women. There are a variety of causes, and it is characterized by loud noises caused by vibrating tissues in the nose and throat. While snoring is not a life-threatening condition, it can be indicative of underlying health problems. A person who snores can suffer sleep disruption from this condition. Some underlying causes of snoring can be remedied by reconstructive surgery in the throat.

  1. Airway Structure

    • The upper palate at the back of the mouth and uvula are fleshy structures that naturally vibrate. If they are physically enlarged, their tendency to vibrate during respiration increases and is one of the main causes of snoring. Lining both sides at the back of the mouth at the top of the throat are the palatine tonsils. When tonsils are infected by bacteria or viruses, they become swollen. Snoring occurs as a result of the enlarged tonsils vibrating during breathing.

    Sleep Apnea

    • Obstructive sleep apnea causes snoring when the muscles at the back of a sleeper's throat relax for extended periods of time. This constricts airflow into the lungs, and respiration increases to compensate for the lack of oxygen. Increased airflow causes the relaxed throat and mouth tissues to vibrate, causing snoring. Sleep apnea can be a condition caused by an intrinsic weakness of the throat muscles, or physical deformity of the throat. Obesity is another contributing cause of apnea, as the extra weight of flesh at the back of the throat may force the airways to close, triggering the brain to increase depth and rate of respiration.

    Nervous System Depressants

    • Another cause of snoring is medications and alcohol. Certain drugs depress brain activity and are prescribed for some medical conditions such as anxiety and insomnia. These are known as CNS depressants and include substances such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates and alcohol. They all have the effect of acting as muscle relaxants. These substances cause snoring by loosening the muscles at the back of throat and causing them to vibrate during breathing.

    Other Causes

    • Heredity is also a cause of snoring. In this case, the root cause of the condition is the genetically inherited shape of the head, neck and throat. A lower rear palate in combination with larger tonsils and a smaller opening into the throat contributes to snoring. Aging may also result in snoring; as the brain ages, its ability to control muscles involuntarily is diminished. This leads to a relaxing of throat muscles during sleep, constricting the airways and causing the sleeper to snore.

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