Why Do People Snore? 5 Shocking Causes of Snoring And What To Do
October 22, 2021
Why Do People Snore? 5 Shocking Causes of Snoring And What To Do
If your family complains about your noisy snoring, you’re not alone. Almost half of all Nigerians, especially Lagosians, snore at night.
Snoring occurs when the tissues in your nose, mouth, or throat block your airway, causing your breath to become obstructed. This causes the tissues in your airway to vibrate against one another, resulting in a rattling or snorting sound.
Here are five reasons why you may snore and how to deal with the problem.
Why Do People Snore? 5 Shocking Causes of Snoring And What To Do
Sleeping on your stomach
According to Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, a sleep specialist, and professor at the University of Pennsylvania. When you lie on your back, gravity can force your airway muscles to compress back on your throat tissue, causing you to snore.
Yet, not everyone who sleeps on their back snores. Sleeping on your back, according to Gurubhagavatula, can induce snoring if your airway is already narrow. This might be due to a deposit of fatty tissue following weight increase or if your airway is tiny.
If your tongue is too big and takes up too much space in your throat.
If your upper airway muscles and tongue relax a lot when you’re sleeping.
To avoid rolling onto your back, use support pillows.
Use a wedge cushion to elevate oneself up enough to avoid snoring.
Lack of sleep
An estimated 40% of Nigerians have sleeping problems and do not receive enough quality sleep. If you are one of them, your brain may try to compensate by boosting the amount of deep, restorative sleep you experience each night. Deep sleep is the third stage of non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and it is characterized by the most relaxed muscles and the slowest brain waves.
“Snoring tends to happen more during these ‘deep sleep’ periods,” explains Gurubhagavatula, since the muscles in your throat, tongue, and roof of your mouth relax more.
Why Do People Snore? 5 Shocking Causes of Snoring And What To Do
Obstructive sleep apnea
Snoring is a frequent sign of sleep apnea, a disease that affects around a good percent of Nigerian adults. It causes the muscles in the neck to relax excessively, obstructing airflow.
“When this occurs, oxygen cannot enter for a few seconds until the brain detects the situation and forces a temporary awakening from sleep,” Gurubhagavatula explains. This implies that, in addition to snoring, you temporarily cease breathing.
This might happen several times during the night, causing you to snore and wake up often. Sleep apnea is a severe disease that can impair your sleep quality and limit the amount of oxygen your body receives.
A doctor can diagnose sleep apnea and recommend the best therapy for you. For milder instances, you may need to adopt lifestyle adjustments such as stopping smoking or increasing your physical activity. In more severe situations, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment may be required to keep your airway open while you sleep.
Smoking
“Smoking can irritate the tissues of the upper airway and create edema, reducing the available space,” Gurubhagavatula explains. This crowding makes it simpler for the tissues in your nose and throat to collapse and produce snoring.
According to Gurubhagavatula, “smoking can also induce obstruction of the nasal passages, requiring the user to have to work harder to force air through. This will cause your upper airway to compress inward and vibrate against adjacent tissue, resulting in snoring.”
“The best healthiest approach to handle this condition is to stop smoking,” Gurubhagavatula adds.
Why Do People Snore? 5 Shocking Causes of Snoring And What To Do
Septum deviation
When the wall between your two nasal passageways shifts to one side, you have a deviated septum. Only highly displaced septums are likely to produce symptoms. However, up to 80% of persons have mildly deviated septums.
Gurubhagavatula explains that when you have a deviated septum, you must produce greater suction to allow air to travel through the smaller nasal channel.
According to Gurubhagavatula, “this increased suction force might cause the throat muscles in the upper airway to fold inward and vibrate,” leading you to snore.
If you have a deviated septum, you should consult with your doctor to decide the best course of action. According to, in rare circumstances, surgery may be required to correct the form of your nasal canal. Snoring can be reduced by using over-the-counter nasal decongestant medicines.
When Should You Consult a Snoring Specialist?
Snoring may be an indication of sleep apnea, which is a possible health risk for someone who snores. If you snore and have any of the following OSA symptoms, you should consult a doctor:
Breathing pauses during sleep, followed by choking, snorting, or gasping sounds
Having numerous nighttime awakenings
Sleepiness during the day
Headache in the morning
Snoring is often missed by the snorer. Instead, a bed partner or housemate informs the affected individual of their snoring and other nocturnal OSA symptoms. If your snoring is interfering with your bed partner’s sleep, you should consult a doctor to discuss treatment alternatives.
While you could be worried about the price of seeing a sleep specialist in Nigeria, wellness healthcare has you covered. All you have to do is simply click here and a certified doctor will take it from there. You can also call us on 070093556377 or +23414408474. You can also send an email to info@wellnesshealthcare.com.ng
