Snoring is a result of relaxed throat muscles that, in turn, cause your airways to be constricted. So, what causes snoring? When you breathe in and out, air forces its way in and out causing the relaxed muscles to vibrate in an unusual way producing the harsh sound. What causes snores is, therefore, anything that will result in your throat relaxing while you are asleep. Here is a shortlist of some of the things known to cause snoring:
😴 Blockage in Your Nasal Airways
A blocked airway will cause unusual air movement, which is likely to create vibrations when you sleep. This is why there is a higher tendency to snore when you have the flu or allergies that have your nose blocked.
😴 Alcohol Consumption and Use of Drugs
After a night out, when you fall like a log on your bed, if you make it there, you are likely to snore. The reason is that alcohol causes the muscles in your entire body to relax. When the uvula and the soft palate are relaxed, you will snore. I would advise moderation if you are the type of person to snore after a drink or two. Taking medication such as muscle relaxers or the use of drugs that have the same effect can also cause snoring.
😴 Large Throat Tissue
This is common among overweight individuals. Accumulation of fat around the throat can cause the restriction of your airways. The result is an even smaller space for the passage of air when sleeping.
😴 Sleeping Posture
Poor sleeping posture can contort your throat and create a blockage to the passage of air while you sleep, which causes you to snore. This is why healthy individuals tend to snore from time to time. It is also possible to snore when lying on your back while sleeping. At night, your whole body relaxes as you slowly progress through the various stages of a sleeping cycle. If you are in a bad posture and your throat muscles are relaxed, the result is often snoring.
😴 Fragile Throat Muscles and Tongue
In some cases, your throat muscles might be weaker than usual. This will result in snoring whenever you are asleep, as they will not hold open enough for proper breathing while sleeping. On the other hand, the tongue muscle may be too weak to hold the tongue in place all night while you sleep. Sleeping on your back with your mouth open can have your tongue slide back into your throat, restricting the smooth flow of air.
😴 Elongated Uvula and Soft Palate
The uvula and soft palate can be very long. This is often a genetic feature that cannot be controlled. However, the unusual length of these features can cause snoring.
😴 Sleep Deprivation
This is where snoring becomes a cyclic process. Sleep deprivation can cause you to have increased chances of snoring because of increased fatigue. When you do snore, you can, in turn, get sleep deprivation continuing the vicious cycle.
😴 Obesity
Obese individuals have large amounts of fat deposited all over the body. When this fat is around your throat, your trachea is constricted. This constriction means air has to be forced through when you sleep and results in vibrations.
😴 Obstructive Sleep Apnea
This is the partial or sometimes complete blockage of your airways as you sleep. Snoring is a sign of sleep apnea, which can be fatal.