Why do people snore?

Why do people snore?

Snoring is caused by the vibration of the mucous membranes in the pharynx as a result of a constriction in the airway between the nose and the vocal cords. It is probably one of the most disagreeable and vexing features of a bedfellow.

Some people snore very loudly. Snoring sounds vary in intensity from 40 to more than 80 decibels, which is as loud as for example loud screams. The maximum allowable limit for nighttime noise in the home is 45 decibels.

Loud snoring can be the cause of a disturbed sleep pattern in the bed partner or the snorer himself. This can lead to fatigue and daytime sleepiness, irritability, concentration problems ...

What causes snoring?

Under normal circumstances, the muscles of the pharynx ensure that the pharynx remains open during sleep and there was a normal passage of the inhaled air. When these muscles are less active, or there are abnormalities in the structure of the pharynx that hamper the normal passage of the inhaled air, the air flow is turbulent. As a result, the mucous membrane of the pharynx starts to vibrate and act on snoring sounds.

This usually involves a narrowing of the uvula (the transition from the nose to the throat) or the portion of the pharynx behind the tongue as a result of the muscle relaxation during sleep. It may also, especially if one is lying on the back, to the tongue back pockets, so that the space is further reduced.

Because of this narrowing is produced when inhaling a negative pressure in the throat which causes the soft palate with uvula, the tongue and the walls of the pharynx to be sucked towards one another and begin to vibrate. You can compare it with the deflation of the balloon where the air is forced through the narrow opening which vibrates and thus makes a shrill sound.

When the pharynx narrows even more and the airway is as it were shut, a break occurs. When snoring is accompanied by the cessation of breathing, one speaks of a sleep apnea. An apnea can take 10 seconds to 1 minute. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of the condition, causing repeated interruption in the breathing during sleep. In some people, this happens a few hundred times per night.

This creates a shallow sleep so the snorer itself can suffer from headaches, fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Also can cause all kinds of health problems (heart problems).

Related article: Sleep apnea

Who snores there?

Snoring is both in children (especially infants) in adults. The risk of snoring increases with age, from about 40 years.

An estimated snores about one in ten children. In adulthood snoring about 20 to 40% of women and 40 to 60% of men, depending on the age. So snoring is almost twice more common in men than in women. But women have to catch up after menopause.

Up to 10% of the snorers also suffers from sleep apnea.

What causes snoring?

The most common cause of snoring in children is an abnormal enlargement of the tonsils and / or adenoids or polyps.

Another major cause is the common cold. Once the cold over, stops snoring.

A less common cause is a congenital malformation of the face or a neurological disorder. For example, in children the snoring are caused by Down's syndrome by their thicker tongue.

In adults it is usually a combination of several factors.

risk Factors

Some factors increase the likelihood of snoring.

• is snoring a lot and at a younger age in some families. Probably this is due to a hereditary close pharynx.

• Age: As we age, the muscles relax more and something more.

• Obesity: there is more than fat tissue in the pharynx.

• Smoking: Research shows that in people who smoke twice as much prevent snoring problems in non-smokers.

• Use of alcohol, especially right before bedtime alcohol provides relaxation of muscles of the mouth, tongue and throat. By loosening the tongue to the back pockets, especially if you are lying on your back.

• Some medicines such as sedatives and tranquillizers, certain medicines for allergy: are responsible also for relaxation of the muscles, like alcohol.

• Different construction of the upper airways

- Defects of the lower jaw, the upper jaw or temporomandibular joint;

- A (congenital) long, limp or thick palate or uvula;

- To large tonsils (especially in children), a large tongue.

• Obstruction of the nose, for example. By allergy, colds, nasal polyps or nasal septum is not good.

• Weakening of the throat muscles that keep the throat opening.

• An underactive thyroid gland: this makes the relaxation of the tongue, palate and throat muscles during sleep worse.