Causes and Remedies for Snoring

Causes of Snoring

 

Snoring is a phenomenon where the airway vibrates and produces sound due to obstructed breathing during sleep. Snoring can lead to serious health issues such as sleep apnea beyond mere discomfort. The causes of snoring are as follows.

 

Obesity

 

Snoring is more common in overweight or obese individuals. In particular, excess fat tissue around the neck can cause the muscles of the throat to relax, leading to increased airway obstruction. Fat can compress the airway, potentially causing snoring.

 

Alcohol and drug intake

 

Taking alcohol, sleep aids, or sedatives that promote sleep can cause muscles to relax more than usual during sleep. When the neck muscles relax, the airway narrows, which can lead to snoring.

 

Sleep posture

 

If you sleep on your back looking up at the ceiling, the soft tissues of the tongue and throat may block the airway, causing snoring.

 

- Allergy / Cold

 

When breathing through the nose becomes difficult due to nasal congestion or rhinitis, breathing through the mouth can occur, leading to snoring.

 

Aging

 

As you age, the muscles in your neck weaken and lose elasticity, which can cause your airway to narrow. When the airway narrows, you may snore.

 

Airway structure

 

If you have symptoms such as a deviated nasal septum or tonsil hypertrophy, abnormalities in these airway structures can cause snoring.

 

<Snoring Solutions>

 

There is a way to solve loud and uncomfortable snoring. The methods to resolve snoring are as follows.

 

Weight loss

 

In cases of obesity, losing weight can reduce fat around the neck, which may alleviate snoring.

 

Reduce alcohol and drug intake

 

It is advisable to avoid alcohol consumption and the use of sleeping pills and sedatives for a few hours before going to bed.

 

Improvement of sleep posture and environment

 

Maintaining a side sleeping position can prevent the tongue and soft tissues from blocking the airway, reducing snoring. Additionally, using a humidifier to increase the room's humidity helps prevent nasal congestion.

 

Oral exercises

 

Strengthening the muscles of the tongue and neck through exercises that expand the airway can help alleviate snoring.

 

Surgical treatment

 

If snoring interferes with daily life, surgical treatments such as septoplasty and tonsillectomy can be considered.

 

This is how we learned about the causes and solutions for snoring. If left untreated, snoring can lead to sleep apnea, so please be cautious.