Thankfully, many solutions exist to prevent, or at least lessen, the frequency and severity of snoring. The first step is to accurately pinpoint the cause. Several causes are possible; not all snoring is the same.
A snore occurs when an airway narrows or becomes blocked. In these situations, air does not move freely. Some structural abnormality in the throat or nose, the age or gender of an individual, their general physique and weight, the existence of any sinus or nasal complaint, as well as their medication regime, tobacco and alcohol intake may all contribute to blocked airways and hence snoring.
Excess skin tissue in the throat or and nose passages is a common cause of snoring. If this tissue becomes soft or limp, it usually vibrates with each breathe, making the sound of a snore. Excess tissue can be removed by surgery. Slackened throat muscle can be worsened by an overweight condition or poor general health. In these instances, better diet and exercise usually helps.
Similarly, overly relaxed throat muscles can be a contributory factor. Alcohol, smoking and various medications can relax throat muscle s leading a person to snore.
Sleep posture is also an important factor. Sleeping flat on the back can cause throat flesh, once it relaxes, to fall limp in such a way that it blocks the airway. Similarly, various sleep postures can cause the position of the tongue to narrow the airway through the throat, causing a person to snore. Altering sleep posture may improve the condition.
Age usually contributes to snoring. As individuals get older, their throat becomes narrower. Throat muscles slacken. The combination increases the chances that older persons will snore.
Similarly, physique is also a factor to consider. A male usually has narrower air passages compared to a female. This is why men are more likely to snore. Other physical features like cleft palates, nose, throat and other facial bone structure may also contribute.
Nasal or sinus conditions can block air passages and provoke a person to snore. In these cases, inhalation during sleep can be very difficult and cause a vacuum to form in the throat. This, in turn, can prompt a person to snore severely.
It is important to distinguish snoring from the more serious condition of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a persistent breathing obstruction that causes a person to repeatedly wake up in order to start breathing again. It is far more disruptive to sleep than is snoring and can lead to far greater fatigue and sleepiness during daytime. Sleep apnea often impairs work performance. It is a condition that requires attention by a doctor and often a specialist.
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