Loud snoring is a problem experienced by many people. This can be a nuisance to everybody within an earshot, but it can also be a sign of a health problem. There are several loud snoring causes ranging from throat problems, genes, sleeping posture, age and sex, obesity as well as sleeping apnea. The muscles in the throat, throat and the tongue tend to relax when we go to sleep and if the throat in the muscles relax and may hinder air flow. The airflow is more forceful in people who have a narrow airway and this result in increased vibration which results in loud snoring.
What causes loud snoring?
More importantly, what causes snoring in general? Snoring is a sound that is produced when we breathe and cause respiratory structures to vibrate. The sound can vary in different people with some producing a soft sound while other produce sounds that are long and loud. Throat muscles that are weak are one of the main snoring causes. If the muscles are weak, the throat will close up and you will have hard time breathing while you are asleep. This is especially common in elderly people because their throat tend to become narrow with age.
A person who has more tissues in the throat is also likely to snore loudly. Also, those with a nose that is curvy are a higher risk of snoring loudly while sleeping. Other causes of snoring include genes whereby a person inherits the snoring conditions from his relatives. This can happen in form of a cleft palate, tissue fats, enlarged adenoids or narrow airway passages.
Structural problems such as a large tongue, narrow nasal tract, large tongue, large tonsils and an extremely thick palate can also cause a person to snore. If you have allergies and other throat problems such as sinus infection, strep throat or asthma they can block your air passages and make breathing difficult. Sex is another cause of snoring with men being older snorer than women. This is because men have narrower airway passages than women.
It is not uncommon for a person who consumes a lot of alcohol to snore loudly. This is because alcohol acts as a nervous system depressant and causes the muscles to relax when the drinker sleeps. The snoring is especially loud if one drinks alcohol before going to sleep. Besides, alcohol leads to weight gain and we all know that people who are overweight are the loudest snorers. A smoker may suffer the same fate as well as people who take sedatives. Therefore, people who snore should avoid smoking and alcohol. If you must drink, take a few glasses only a few hours before you go to bed since alcohol takes time to be absorbed by the body.
The way you sleep is one of the major snoring causes. It is therefore advisable to avoid sleeping on your back, and instead sleep on your side. When you sleep on your back the tongue tends to roll back and block the airways. You can also get special pillows that are designed for people with sleeping problem. Alternatively, sleep with your head above the body.
Sleep apnea is one of the most popular snoring causes. Unlike other causes, this can be life threatening and you should seek medical attention immediately. A person with sleep apnea has to wake up several time to catch his or her breath and then go back to sleep again. This can take its toll on you since you are not getting enough sleep.
How to cure loud snoring
It is easy to avoid loud snoring once you have identified its causes. You can start with the simple remedies such as changing your sleeping position and losing weight. Try to sleep on your side and eat a diet that is not going to increase the fats in your body. Moreover, make sure to exercise regularly in order to burn extra calories. You can also get nasal strips to help you clear your nasal passage since this is one of the main snoring causes. There are some surgical procedures that you can undergo to increase the air passages to help you breathe easily. You can also have your nasal cavity or jaw modified in case it is giving you breathing problems. You may also need to change your pillow since a pillow can collect allergens after being used for several years and these allergens can lead to loud snoring.
Snoring causes can be divided into two classes namely controllable and uncontrollable. Those which can be controlled include sleeping position, obesity, smoking and alcohol. On the other hand, those which we can not control include age, sex, genes, structural problems and others. Fortunately, all of them can be cured as long by changing lifestyle or medical remedies. The key is to understand the root cause of snoring is so you can address it properly.