Are you a snorer and you don't know why you snore or what the causes of snoring are? Knowing exactly what the causes of snoring are is the first step in treating your problem. Your snoring may be caused by any of the wide range of reasons from physical causes, and underlying diseases to lifestyle choices. Snoring is a relatively common occurrence with as many as 40% of all adult Americans snoring if not nightly, then a few times each week. Besides being harmful, and potentially very serious, to the person who snores, snoring also causes difficulties with with your spouse, significant other and family members, at times even leading to divorce. What causes snoring? Snoring is caused by an obstruction to the free flow of air through the sinuses cavities at the back of the mouth and nose. In this area, you can find the soft part of the air passage, where the tongue and the back of the throat meet the soft palate and the uvula (the uvula is the little piece of flesh that hangs down in the back of the throat and the soft palate). * The Bigger Causes of Snoring * Weak and poorly toned muscles in the throat and the tongue are one of the major causes of snoring. When the muscles in the throat are too relaxed, the tongue, or other muscles may, can fall into the airway causing obstruction or blockage of the airway, and consequently, a snoring problem results. " A major cause of weak throat muscles, the tongue and other problems is obesity or being overweight. Obese people have fatty tissues that are deposited in the neck and areas of the throat. This weight of the neck area and the fatty tissue deposits put pressure on the airway, especially when laying down. Also, when sleeping, the throat muscles relax, and they may buckle under the weight of fatty tissues and weight of the neck. " Your muscles also can be relaxed when drinking alcohol, as it is a depressant that makes all of your muscles relax. If you snore it's best to have your last drink four - six hours before you go to bed. I " It is also known certain medications, such as anti-histamines and sleeping pills, have been shown to muscle relaxants, as alcohol. " In addition it is well known that smokers have a very high possibility of being a snorer's. Smoking affects the airways and sinuses causing swelling in the membranes of the nose and the tissues of the throat. It also damages the small vessels of the lungs by blocking them. The nicotine itself also can cause sleep disruptions that can increase the nightly snoring. " Unfortunately, a snoring problem can also be traced to your genes. Our ancestors pass on a trait that may result in you inheriting a narrow throat, which can be a big problem when it comes to proper breathing. If you mother or father snore you inherit a greater chance of snoring. " A lot of people who have more moderate snoring issues only do so when sleeping on their backs. An easy adjustment for this would be to learn to sleep on your side. " A pillow increases the angle of your neck, which can lead to airway obstruction, and coincidentally, a snoring issue. There are "special" pillows that can help you. * A Couple of Other Causes of Snoring * " Allergies may account for another reason that someone snores. When faced with allergens, maybe the pollen count is high, nasal congestion can occur in an allergic person. This restricts the airway and can result in snoring. Remember what I mentioned above, anti-histamines are also a possible cause of snoring, so it is best to take a nasal decongestant for any allergen troubles before sleep. " Your diet. Especially milk and milk related products create mucus and cause congestion both in your sinus and your throat. There are a other causes to snoring as well, these are simply some of the more common reasons and all can be controlled and managed, allowing you not to snore at all. If none of these symptoms seem like they are what is affecting you, you should speak with your doctor as their may be serious underlying problems. Snoring seems like a harmless problem, but it can wreak havoc on your sleep cycles and even cause such complications as heart problems and strokes if left untreated. |
