Causes of Snoring & Sleep Apnea
In adults, snoring can be caused by various factors: abnormalities of the nasal cavity or pharynx, age, obesity, hormonal factors, alcohol consumption, hay fever, use of medication with muscle relaxing side effects, smoking etc…
In children, the most frequent causes of snoring are polyps and enlarged tonsils. Less common is snoring caused by a congenital defect of the face or a neurological disorder.
You will find more information below.
Possible causes of Snoring & Sleep Apnea:
* Abnormalities of the nasal cavity or pharynx
Nasal: Deviated nasal septum (congenital or caused by trauma), abnormal swelling of the nasal membranes (caused by an allergy or a cold), nasal polyps, and sinusitis. Pharynx: Swelling of the uvula, enlargement of the tonsils, abnormally large tongue.
* Hay fever / Allergies
Hay fever is seasonal allergic rhinitis. It is a reaction to pollen of grasses or trees. Hay fever is seasonal because these pollen are only present in certain seasons. The season in which the pollen are airborne, varies from species to species.
* Smoking
Inhaled cigarette smoke irritates the mucous membrane in the pharynx. This produces a swelling of the mucous membrane, which causes snoring.
* Age
Snoring most frequently occurs in middle age. The possibility of snoring increases up to 60-65 years of age, after that it decreases.
* Obesity
There is a clear connection between the extent of obesity and the occurrence of snoring. Especially the accumulation of fat around the throat plays an important part.
* Pregnancy
Some women start snoring during pregnancy. This as a result of dilated blood vessels and your body retaining more water. It causes the nasal membranes to swell, which narrows the air way.
* Hormonal factors
Snoring can be caused by a deviating hormone regulation: too little thyroid hormone, too much growth hormone. Women have an increased risk after the menopause because of the reduction of female hormones.
* Alcohol consumption
Alcohol consumption during the evening increases the possibility of snoring and apnea’s during sleep. This effect is already seen at 0.07g/dl. Alcohol relaxes the muscles that keep open the pharynx and interferes with breathing control during sleep.
* Use of medication with muscle relaxing side effects
Certain medicines (primarily sleeping medication – benzodiazepines) bring about snoring because they relax the muscles that ought to keep the pharynx open during sleep.
* Common cold
When you suffer from a cold, there is a bigger chance of snoring. A cold or flu cause the membranes in the nasal cavity and the pharynx to swell. This makes it difficult for inhaled air to flow through the nose, which forces you to breathe through the mouth.
