Snoring is a very common phenomenon during sleep. It is often perceived as a nuisance by your partner as it may not be immediately noticed by you. Snoring is an issue that concerns more than 25% of adults on a regular basis. The causes of snoring vary as it can be light, occasional and inconsequential or it can be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder. Even so, it is good to consider every possible cause of snoring so that it can be treated effectively.
10 Reasons You May Be Snoring
Anything that blocks the passage of air through the nasal passages is a possible cause of snoring.
1. Deviated Nasal Septum
Crooked nasal septum causes difficulty in breathing resulting in snoring. In this case, there are other indications. Some of them are a constantly blocked nose, frequent sinus infections, headaches, etc. The treatment of snoring as well as general discomfort of a deviated nasal septum is done with the appropriate surgical intervention after a visit to a surgeon otolaryngologist.
2. Hypertrophic Nasal Concha
Hypertrophic sinuses are mainly found in the context of allergic or vasomotor rhinitis, which when treated effectively, snoring stops. This is a temporary situation.
3. Hypertrophic Growths
Nasopharyngeal nodules or hypertrophic growths in the nasopharynx are a mass of lymphatic tissue located at the back of the pharynx, near the nose. when the nasopharyngeal nodules show swelling then they can prevent the functioning of breathing, blocking the nasal respiratory passage, causing snoring. In this particular case, the diagnosis is made through an endoscopic examination from a visit to an oral doctor and he will judge whether they need to be removed. Lumps are more common in and are found in children.
4. Nasal Polyps
Nasal polyps are benign lesions and may not always present symptoms. The diagnosis is made after an endoscopic examination of the nasal cavity in an oral clinic. Some of the most common symptoms that point to nasal polyps are difficulty inhaling and especially exhaling air, persistent nasal congestion, decreased sense of smell, frequent headaches, a feeling of heaviness over the eyes, snoring and episodes of sleep apnea.
The treatment method depends on the size and extent of the condition. Polyps can be treated with medication or in an extensive condition may require surgical removal.
5. Hypertrophic Tonsils
Hypertrophic tonsils usually present with symptoms such as difficulty breathing which produces noise, chronic bad breath, snoring and sleep apnea. The diagnosis is made after an examination by an otolaryngologist, and the treatment method followed is tonsillectomy when severe cases of sleep apnea occur.
6. Oversized Grape or Oversized Soft Palate
A large cleft palate and the back of the soft palate can be a cause of snoring when they are larger than normal. The solution in this case is pharyngoplasty, or excision of the grape and hardening of the soft palate.
7. Micrognathia or Retrognathism of the Lower Jaw
Retrognathism of the lower jaw, i.e. when the lower jaw is further back than normal and does not converge with the upper jaw, presents several problems in the person's daily life and is noticed during childhood development. Of course, it can also appear in adulthood after a serious injury or surgery to the skull. Retrognathism creates problems with teeth alignment, chewing and breathing problems such as snoring and sleep apnea. The treatment is done with orthodontic treatment or in more severe cases with jaw surgery.
8. Macroglossia
Macroglossia is a result of other underlying medical conditions and should therefore be investigated further. Some causes are muscle hypertrophy, food or drug allergies, amyloidosis, hypothyroidism, vascular malformations (hemangioma, lymphangioma), Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.
9. Obstructive or Central Apnea
Obstructive or central sleep apnea is manifested by intense snoring accompanied by a feeling of suffocation. What happens in sleep apnea is that you stop breathing during your sleep, either because your airways are blocked or because your brain doesn't control your breathing properly. The resulting lack of oxygen triggers a survival reflex that wakes you up long enough to resume breathing. However, the robe by itself, is not necessarily an indication of sleep apnea. Other symptoms you may notice are fatigue, sleepiness, frequent headaches, lack of energy and inability to concentrate, low mood, etc. The most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is the use of a CPAP device. A CPAP machine is a continuous positive airway pressure device that is connected to your nose or mouth through a mask and a tube with the device.
10. Pregnancy
Snoring during the second and third trimester of pregnancy is normal. This is due to the release of hormones and weight gain that can aggravate snoring. One in three women snore at some point during pregnancy.
Don't Forget These Agravating Factors of Snorring
Snoring can be significantly reduced by avoiding some habits that burden the health and make it worse. There are many times that these bad habits are also the main cause of snoring and when they are avoided, snoring is significantly reduced.
- Smoking.
- Obesity.
- High Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages.
- Use of Certain Medicines such as Tranquilizers.
Ultimately it is important to understand that in order to implement effective treatments there are a variety of factors that contribute to snoring. From lifestyle to anatomical predispositions, examining and identifying the underlying causes of snoring will pave the way for targeted treatments and interventions. By addressing issues such as nasal congestion, sleep apnea, or obesity, individuals can take preventative measures to minimize snoring and improve overall sleep quality. By seeking the proper medical guidance, you will help yourself relieve snoring and have a restful, refreshing sleep experience not only for you but also for your partner.
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