What Does Snoring Say About Your Health?

Because there are so many causes of snoring, it is hard to pinpoint which exactly is the most prevalent. Snoring is often associated with sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that causes pauses in breathing during sleep. However, there are many other causes of snoring, including:

– Allergies — When people have allergies, the airways can become blocked with mucus, preventing proper airflow. This can lead to snoring.

– Dry Air and Climates — Allergies are not the only irritants that lead to congestion; arid climates, or air that is excessively dusty or polluted, increases the body’s mucous production to filter out particles and pollutants. This can lead to snoring.

– Weight Gain — Heavier people tend to have extra tissue and fatty deposits around the neck and throat area that can put excess pressure on the airways, restricting breathing and promoting snoring.

– Smoking — The dry air created in the lungs by smoking combined with the chemicals and irritants contained in tobacco smoke can lead to inflammation, which also reduces the size of the air passageways in the nose and throat.

Other common causes of snoring include:

Alcohol consumption before bed
– Medications that relax muscles
– Aging
– Physiology of the upper airway
– Sleeping position
– Sleep deprivation
– Nasal passage and sinus problems

There are different types of snores; the way a person snores can tell a lot about what is causing them to snore. These include:

Nose Snoring — This type of snoring occurs when there is a blockage in the nose. This can be caused by a deviated septum, allergies, colds, stuffiness in the nose and certain types of medication.

Open Mouth Snoring — Mouth based snoring occurs when an individual breathes through their mouth instead of their nose. This may be due to a blockage in the nose resulting in the inability to breath through the nose while sleeping. The vibration of breathing through the mouth is when snoring occurs.

Closed Mouth Snoring — If snoring occurs and the individuals mouth is closed it can be indicative of a nasal blockage.

Tongue Snoring — This occurs when the tongue becomes a blockage and restricts the airflow into the lungs. This often results when an individual sleeps on their back and when the tongue relaxes it then becomes a blockage.

Throat Snoring — This type of snoring is often a result of sleep apnea which causes an individual to stop breathing throughout the night. When the muscles in the neck and throat relax too much it can create the feeling of being choked which causes the sleeping individual to cough or jolt awake in order to regain their open airway.

Snoring does not always indicate a health problem, but in some cases, it can. The most common health problem associated with snoring is obesity, which also strongly correlates with sleep apnea. If snoring is chronic or disruptive to others, it may be caused by sleep apnea; this is especially true when snoring is accompanied by gasping for breath or pauses in breathing during sleep.

If you are worried about your or someone else’s snoring, the team at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders can help. Call us today to book an appointment with one of our qualified sleep team members or visit one of our locations: We serve patients from all across the United States. We look forward to serving you!