Snoring

Causes of snoring

Source: NHS

In this topic (6)

Snoring is causedby the vibration of thesoft tissue in your head and neck as you breathe in.

It can affect the:

  • nasal passages
  • soft palate a soft layer of tissue at the back of the roof of the mouth
  • base of the tongue
  • tonsils two small glands above the tongue where the mouth meets the throat
  • uvula a small cone-shaped section of tissue that hangs from the soft palate between the tonsils

While you're asleep, the airways in your head and neck relax and narrow. It's thought that the narrowing of the airways increases the speed you breathe out and changes air pressure in your airways. This causes the soft tissue to vibrate by sucking the sides of the airways in.

The same effect can also be the result of partially blocked airways, whichmay be caused by conditions such as enlarged tonsils and Cold .

Evidencesuggests that snoringwill get worse over time if left untreated. The vibrations that occur during snoring appear to damageblood vessels that supply muscles in the head and neck. Over many years, this causes the muscles to weaken.

If your head and neckmuscles are weakened, it will affect their ability to keep your airways open, making you more likely to snore frequently and loudly.

Increased risk

Some things that can increase your risk of habitual snoring include:

  • obesity particularly if you have a large amount of fat around your neck; people with aneck circumference of more than 43cm (17 inches) usually snore a lot
  • drinking alcohol alcohol relaxes your muscles when you sleep, which increases the narrowing of your airways
  • sedatives and some types of antidepressants in some people, these medications can have a similar effect to alcohol on the muscles
  • smoking tobacco smoke can cause your airways to become inflamed, whichcauses greaternarrowing of the airways
  • allergic rhinitis where the inside of your nose becomes swollen and inflamed as a result of an allergic reaction to substances such as dust or pollen

People with severe snoring may have obstructive sleep apnoea , a condition where the airways become temporarily blocked during sleep.

Articles for Snoring

'I could have killed a child'

Terry Gasking was diagnosed with sleep apnoea after a couple of terrifying incidents during which he feel asleep at the wheel. He tells us how he got through

'My snoring wakes me up'

Stephanie Chewter says her snoring is so loud she wakes up herself, her partner and their two children. She knows if she loses weight it will help.

Causes of snoring

Snoring is caused by the vibration of the soft tissue in your head and neck as you breathe in.

Introduction

Snoring occurs when a person makes a snorting or rattling noise when they breathe during sleep.

Symptoms of snoring

Snoring is when you make a noticeable sound when you breathe in during sleep.

Treating snoring

It is sometimes possible to treat snoring with lifestyle changes, but further treatment is also available if these don't help.