What Causes Snoring?: 5 Common Causes (and What to Do About It!)

Missing out on a good night’s sleep can cause memory issues, difficulty concentration, irritability, and a weakened immune system. Over time, lack of sleep is also linked to high blood pressure and obesity.

One of the biggest disruptors of sleep is snoring. Whether it’s you or your partner, snoring can be a troublesome issue that no one wants to deal with.

But what causes snoring? And how can you cure it?

Keep reading to find out the causes and solutions to snoring.

1. Overweight and Obesity

People who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk for snoring. This is caused by a larger amount of throat tissue. When the throat tissue is larger it can obstruct the airway. As you sleep, the tissue vibrates and results in snoring.

The best way to alleviate snoring caused by weight gain is to maintain a healthy weight through proper diet and exercise. This will not only help your sleep but it can support heart health, immunity, and mood levels.

2. Allergies and Congestion

If you’ve ever had a cold with congestion, you have probably experienced snoring. When your airway is congested, the airflow is disrupted causing snoring. Allergies can cause a similar issue in the nose and throat contributing to snoring.

For short term relief from congestion, you can use a decongestant. If the symptoms of snoring continue, talk to your doctor about a long-term solution. For allergies, you can take seasonal allergy medicine or identify the source of the allergy and avoid it if possible.

3. Pregnancy

Pregnant women may also have a larger amount of throat tissue that may disrupt airflow. Pregnancy is one of the more common causes of snoring in women.

This issue may resolve after pregnancy and when a woman’s weight is closer to pre-pregnancy weight. For pregnant women, changing sleeping positions may help alleviate snoring. If you are pregnant and struggling with snoring, talk to your doctor about safe sleep position changes you can make. Certain positions are contraindicated later in pregnancy.

4. Alcohol Use

Consuming alcohol can cause snoring or make snoring symptoms worse. When you consume alcohol before going to bed your throat muscles relax which blocks the natural flow of air through your airway.

What is the snoring remedy for snoring caused by alcohol use? Abstain from alcohol, of course. But if you’re going to drink alcohol, drink it in moderation to prevent snoring from getting worse.

5. Deviated Septum

A deviated septum is an abnormality in which one nasal passage is larger than the other. It makes breathing more difficult because air cannot flow freely through the nasal cavity which causes snoring.

If you think you may have a deviated septum, talk to your doctor. He or she may recommend surgery to resolve the issue.

What Causes Snoring and How to Fix It

As you can see there are a number of factors that can cause snoring. Certain lifestyle choices like a healthy diet and limited alcohol use will reduce the likelihood of snoring. Other factors may require intervention from a medical professional.

So, what causes snoring for you? Is it something that you can take action to improve? If so, give it a try. Stop snoring and get better sleep tonight.

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