7 reasons to cause snoring

The most common cause of having blocked airways is — you guessed it — having your airways physically blocked. When you fall asleep, the muscles in your neck and throat relax. If you’re sitting at your computer reading this, try letting your head hang down, relax your neck, and slowly take a deep breath through your nose.

With your newfound knowledge of snoring causes, you no doubt have already figured out that relaxants will likely make things worse. Sleeping pills, alcohol, or other drugs that cause muscle relaxation can actually be very detrimental for snorers, despite helping you to fall asleep initially. The price of sleep for you might cost sleep for your partner. What about drugs like Valium or Xanax? Unfortunately, same boat. They can all contribute to over-relaxing the neck muscles, which can physically obstruct your upper airway.

Another factor that can cause snoring is inflammation of the upper airway and nasal passages. In contrast to having your muscles relax and touch one another, irritants can cause them instead to become inflamed, thus narrowing your airways. If you snore mainly during allergy season or after a day at the ol’ grass seed factory, you’re likely snoring as a reaction to your environment! Bad air quality and smoke inhalation can act as irritants in a similar fashion. It’s not your fault, but you can combat this minor annoyance with antihistamines (allergies) or staying indoors (air quality).

If you are a smoker who snores (this is true of cigarettes, vaporizers, and other smokables), you’re likely afflicted (at least in part) because you physically irritate your throat with smoke. Your airways can become more prone to closing ever-so-much when you sleep, and it might be worth trying to give it up.

So, you’re like most people on earth and don’t drink enough water, huh? Did you know that suffering from even light dehydration can cause a lack of natural lubricants on the inside of your body, leaving your flaps and muscles sticky with dryness? Whether it causes long-term irritation in your throat or not, the immediate reaction may just mean you’re snoring more than usual, and any more than none at all is less than ideal. In a similar way, chronic congestion and postnasal drip can cause your floppier tissues to stick together!

Sleep disorders that cause medical issues can be harder to combat. If you have a long soft palate, a large uvula, a deviated septum, or inflamed tonsils, these issues can act in a similar way to inflammation and obstruction by tension. Having additional physical blockages will always contribute to additional audible snores.

If you suffer from sleep apnea (breathing completely stopping during sleep) or insomnia (an inability to sleep easily or well), you should consult a medical professional. Both of these issues are not uncommon, cause an increase in snoring, and curing them can take time, medical procedures, and long-term commitments to better overall health.