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What Makes You Snore?

According to the Mayo Clinic, about half of adults snore from time to time. While occasional snoring is not cause for concern, the practice can indicate a serious health condition. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) doctors point out that you are more likely to snore if you are over 50, male, overweight, have a family history of snoring or if you lie on your back when you sleep.

  1. Definition

    • BIDMC explains that snoring is the sound produced by obstructed breathing when you sleep. When you snore, air does not move freely through the passages in the back of your nose and mouth. Vibration occurs at the roof of the mouth and part of your soft palate, known as the uvula, creating the snoring sound. The narrower the airway, the worse the obstruction and the louder the snoring sound.

    Airway Obstruction

    • The airways become obstructed for various reasons. For instance, BIDMC notes that enlarged tonsils, tumors or cysts are sometimes responsible. Certain structural factors, such as a long roof of the mouth, a small chin or overbite and irregularities of the nose and nasal septum, are often the cause. Airways can also become obstructed due to nasal congestion brought on by colds and sinus infections. Other culprits include decreased muscle tone in the tongue or throat and excess tissue around the throat due to obesity.

    Symptoms

    • The main symptom of snoring, of course, is noisy breathing as you sleep. BIDMC lists other symptoms that are often associated with obstructive sleep apnea. They include gasping, choking, long pauses in breathing and sudden awakening. Signs of sleep apnea when you are awake include sleepiness and fatigue during the day, impaired mental ability and headaches.

    Sleep Apnea

    • Mayo Clinic doctors explain that sleep apnea is a serious condition. It prompts stoppages in breathing caused by throat tissues obstructing your airway. With sleep apnea, you often snore loudly, but then a long period of silence--sometimes 10 seconds or longer--occurs. Occasionally, the airflow to your brain is inadequate, causing you to wake abruptly with a gasp or snorting sound. This can occur several times a night. The American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) advises that surgery can correct snoring, but it does not necessarily address the underlying apneas.

    Treatment

    • The first course of action against snoring usually involves lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and avoiding alcohol just before bedtime. Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles and inhibits your defenses against airway obstruction. You may also be instructed to sleep on your side, as this can decrease snoring. A doctor may prescribe a mouthpiece to help open your airways. Surgery to open the airways is sometimes a consideration, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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