Causes of snoring

How does snoring develop?

Most often snoring is caused by obstruction of breathing through the nose. The noise of inhalation occurs only when sleeping and not when awake, as all muscles relax during sleep. This loosens the muscles in the mouth, throat and pharynx area.

This means that, on the one hand, the soft palate is flaccid and flutters more strongly than usual, which makes it easier to obstruct the airways, and, on the other hand, the lower jaw sinks downwards due to the slackened cheek muscles. At night, one tends to breathe through the mouth, which in combination with the slack muscles results in snoring. Some people also snore in a certain position, usually lying on their back, as the lower jaw is least supported in this position and the mouth is most likely to be open. There are people who snore every night and those whose sleep is normally inconspicuous, but who then become snorers in certain situations.

What factors cause snoring?

Snoring can be promoted or triggered by a variety of factors. Some of them are

  • Sleep Apnea
  • Cold, also allergic rhinitis
  • Sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses)
  • Curvature of the nasal septum
  • A long, deep and flaccid palate or a broad uvula
  • Nasal polyps
  • Enlarged pharyngeal tonsils
  • Shortened lower jaw
  • Overweight
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Nicotine consumption
  • Certain drugs
  • Increasing age

Sleep apnea is a disease that is estimated to affect two to four percent of adults. Those affected suffer from sleep apnoea.

The probability of developing a sleep apnoea syndrome increases with age and mostly affects men. Sleep apnoea is very closely associated with snoring. Snoring can be particularly loud and occasionally reaches a volume of approximately 90 decibels, which is equivalent to the sound of a jackhammer.

The most common form of sleep apnea is the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, in which the muscles of the soft palate fall backwards and constrict the airways. Do you suffer from sleep apnoea syndrome? Learn more about the therapy options.

In a cold, the mucous membranes of the nose are inflamed, usually as part of a cold. A cold can also be caused by an allergy. Cold of any cause disturbs the nasal breathing enormously.

Those affected breathe mainly through the mouth, which often leads to snoring during sleep. Narrowed airways, as in the case of a cold, increase the flow rate of the air we breathe. This effect and obstructed nasal breathing are particularly conducive to snoring.

Another possible cause of snoring is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis). In this case the mucous membranes of the paranasal sinuses are inflamed. Sinusitis can be acutely caused by bacteria or viruses, it can be chronic and allergy-associated.

A curvature of the nasal septum greatly favors the occurrence of sinusitis. Since an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses greatly hinders nasal breathing, those affected breathe mainly through the mouth. Mouth breathing and any anatomical changes, such as a curvature of the nasal septum, greatly promote snoring.

A bending of the nasal septum is one of the most common malformations in the area of the nose. In a nasal septum curvature, the septum, the nasal septum, is not located in the middle, but is curved. This can have various causes, such as an injury with subsequent kinking during healing or a growth disorder of the tissue.

The curvature of the nasal septum leads to a considerable obstruction of nasal breathing. At the same time, the occurrence of rhinitis and sinusitis is promoted. Impaired nasal breathing and the consequences of the curvature of the nasal septum often cause occasional or permanent snoring in those affected.

Nasal polyps are benign growths of the tissue of the nasal mucous membranes. They occur in adults and develop in the paranasal sinuses, from where they proliferate into the main nasal cavity. Nasal polyps become problematic when they reach a certain size where they impede nasal breathing.

This can cause snoring and sleep disorders. When nasal breathing is no longer possible, we automatically switch to poorer mouth breathing. Mouth breathing during sleep is closely related to snoring.If the lower jaw is shortened, this narrows the airways and, as a result of the narrowed airways, the flow rate of the inhaled air increases.

A narrowing of the airways particularly promotes snoring. It favors the vibration of the slackened muscles in the throat area, which causes the typical snoring sounds. A shortened lower jaw is so to speak an anatomical predisposition for snoring.

A greater weight gain becomes noticeable early in the form of a double chin at the transition from neck to head. The fat content of the subcutaneous fatty tissue also increases. This means that the fat not only causes a bacon-like appearance on the outside, but also pushes inwards and can constrict the airways.

As a result, being overweight promotes the occurrence of snoring. In fact, there is a correlation between alcohol consumption in the evening and snoring. Alcohol has a relaxing effect on the muscles, and during sleep the muscles are more relaxed than average as a result of evening alcohol consumption.

This affects numerous muscles, including muscles in the base of the tongue, lower jaw and soft palate. If these muscles relax strongly, they can fall back and constrict and obstruct the respiratory canal. This eventually leads to snoring.

When breathing in and out through the mouth, the air is pressed through a much narrower opening and the surrounding tissue is made to vibrate. We hear these fluttering, vibrating movements in the sleeping person as snoring. In fact, there are a number of medications that can cause snoring as a side effect and promote snoring.

These include If taken medication leads to a cold and snoring, this can be communicated with the family doctor and a suitable alternative may be found.

  • Blood pressure reducers such as beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors
  • Antihistamines as allergy medication
  • Antidepressants
  • Painkillers like ibuprofen
  • Birth control pill
  • PDE-5 inhibitor (Viagra) against impotence
  • Nasal spray or nasal drops can also cause a rhinitis as a side effect. Therefore, they should only be used for a short time.

An increasing age can strongly promote the occurrence of snoring by its accompanying symptoms.

With age, the tissue becomes softer and can collapse more easily. This affects, among other things, the muscles of the soft palate, the uvula and the other muscles of the throat. In addition, hormonal changes occur during and after the menopause in women.

Over time, most older people develop orthopedic problems, so that older people sleep more often in a supine position. A supine position encourages the tongue to fall back into the throat. In fact, the tongue often becomes even larger with age and increasingly constricts the upper airways.

In addition, we gain weight with age and subcutaneous fatty tissue accumulates in the area of the throat, among other things. In addition, older people often take many medications which, as side effects, can also lead to rhinitis and snoring.