Snoring is the flow of air from the mouth or nose to the lungs and makes the tissues of the throat vibrate when sleeping and producing a loud and raspy sound. Snoring can be caused by other medical conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, which is a dangerous problem since the person suffering sometimes stops breathing during sleeping. Snoring is most common in men than in women.
When sleeping, the muscles found in the back of the roof of the mouth, tongue and throat relax, and if the relaxing is too long, they become narrow or block the airway. As the person breathes, the soft palate and uvula will vibrate and knock against the back of the throat, and this is the sound during snoring. The tonsils and the adenoids also will vibrate. The narrower the airways, the more tissues will vibrate and sound of snoring is louder. You can learn more about this issue by enrolling in a first aid course.
Causes of snoring
Snoring is caused by a blockage or narrowing in the nose, mouth, throat or airway. During sleep, the air enters the mouth or nose and pass across the soft palate, which is the back portion of the roof of the mouth and goes to the lungs.
Once the rear of the mouth in which the tongue and upper throat connect with the soft palate and uvula collapses, the airways will be blocked, and there is disturbance of the airflow. Take note that this will cause the soft palate and uvula to vibrate and knock against the back of the throat, thus causing snoring. Some causes of snoring including the following:
- Blocked nasal passages which makes it difficult to inhale and affects the tissues found in the throat. A blocked nasal passage can be caused by an upper respiratory infection like cold, allergy or nasal polyps.
- Enlarged tonsils can cause snoring in children.
- Loss of muscle tone in the throat will make it easier for the tissues to collapse, and it is caused by aging or lack of fitness.
Other things that can also cause snoring
- Drinking of alcohol which depresses a part of the brain that function in regulating breathing.
- Presence of fats in the throat can cause narrowing of the airways.
- Some medications that make you relax and drowsy like medications for allergies, depression and anxiety
Treatment and home remedies
- People who are overweight are susceptible to snoring. Reducing the weight can help minimize the narrowing of the airways and reduce or stop snoring.
- Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol or taking medications like sleeping pills or tranquilizers before sleeping since they make the snoring worse.
- Going to bed at the same time every night and get plenty of sleep, because snoring frequently happens when sleeping is not enough.
- The person should sleep on his/her side in order to stop the snoring.
- Treat difficulty in breathing caused by colds or allergies since it can block the airflow and can result to snoring.
- Using a breathing device while sleeping like strips or disks that are placed on the nose.