Snoring: There Is More To The Story

Snoring is typically thought to be nothing more than a harmless annoyance. However, when a person snores — there is generally more to the story. Whether it's you or your partner that is experiencing a bout with snoring, it's important to understand that snoring isn't ever random; there is always an underlying cause.   

Severe Exhaustion

The perfect prescription for a long, tiresome day is sleep. So, it sounds like a bit of an oxymoron to think that severe exhaustion can lead to snoring. When a person is fatigued, the body naturally tries to spend as much time as possible in the deep sleep phase, which is also the period of sleep when the body is most relaxed. 

While in this relaxed state, the muscles in the body become very relaxed, including those that line the throat. Relaxed muscles in the throat create a blockage that can lead to snoring. Ideally, a change in schedule that could help a person get more sleep would be best. 

Anatomical Structure

Some people have a body structure that makes them more prone to snoring problems, particularly when it comes to mouth and nose structure. The sound produced from snoring is a symptom of the blockage that is occurring in the airway. So, for people who have low hanging soft palates or someone who carries excess fat tissue at the back of their throat, it's highly likely that the blockage created by their body structure would lead to an issue with snoring. 

In terms of nose abnormalities, people who have a deviated septum, which means the divider that separates their nostrils is crooked instead of straight, tend to snore when they sleep. Depending on the source of the anatomical issue, the structure issue might not be able to be corrected. 

Allergy Symptoms

If your partner has told you that you only snore sometimes, allergies could be to blame. For people with environmental allergies, such as dust and pollen, every time they breathe in allergen-containing air, the particles in the air irritate their nasal passages.

Over time, this irritation causes the passages to swell. As stated earlier, the sound produced by snoring is the result of airway blockage. When the nasal passages swell, the pathway for air to travel through is narrowed, which can cause snoring. For someone with seasonal allergies, taking an allergy medication is helpful. However, for someone with severe allergies, this step alone might not be enough to resolve the problem.

Snoring is not an issue you have to deal with forever. Thanks to modern advancements, there are snoring treatment options that can help you. Visit a sleep center to learn more about your situation.