Snoring is a common occurrence, characterized by a hoarse or harsh sound during sleep. This sound results from air flowing past relaxed tissues in the throat, causing them to vibrate. While occasional snoring is normal, a sudden onset or increase can be concerning. Understanding how snoring happens can clarify why it might begin or worsen unexpectedly.
Understanding How Snoring Happens
Snoring involves the narrowing of the upper airway during sleep. As a person transitions to deeper sleep, muscles in the soft palate, tongue, and throat relax. This relaxation causes these soft tissues to sag and partially block the airway.
When air passes through this constricted space, it becomes turbulent. This turbulence causes the soft tissues—such as the soft palate, uvula, and base of the tongue—to vibrate, creating the distinctive snoring sound. The degree of airway narrowing influences the volume and frequency of the snoring.
Common Reasons for New or Increased Snoring
Several factors can contribute to the sudden onset or worsening of snoring. Weight gain is a common cause, especially around the neck and upper body. Increased fatty tissue in these areas can physically narrow the upper airway, increasing resistance to airflow and making tissues more prone to vibration during breathing. Even a modest weight increase can lead to noticeable snoring.
Aging also plays a role in snoring. Natural aging processes lead to a decrease in overall muscle tone, including the muscles in the throat and upper airway. This allows the soft palate and other tissues to relax more readily, increasing the likelihood of vibration and snoring. For women, hormonal changes after menopause, specifically lower estrogen levels, can further decrease airway muscle tone.
Consuming alcohol or sedatives before bedtime can increase snoring. These substances relax throat and tongue muscles more than usual, making the airway more susceptible to collapse and vibration. This can worsen existing snoring or cause it in new snorers. Certain medications, like muscle relaxants, some antihistamines, and benzodiazepines, also have a sedative effect that relaxes throat muscles and contributes to snoring.
Nasal congestion from allergies, a cold, or a sinus infection can force a person to breathe through their mouth during sleep. This mouth breathing can increase the likelihood of snoring because it alters airflow dynamics and causes vibrations in the soft tissues of the throat. Additionally, sleeping position has a direct impact; lying on the back allows gravity to pull the tongue and soft palate backward, potentially obstructing the airway, causing or intensifying snoring. Sleeping on one’s side is often recommended to help keep the airway open.
Smoking is a common contributor to snoring. Tobacco smoke irritates the throat and nasal passages, causing inflammation and swelling. This narrows air passages and increases mucus production, restricting airflow and promoting snoring. Studies indicate that current smokers are at least twice as likely to snore as non-smokers, and snoring severity often correlates with the amount smoked.
When Snoring Becomes a Health Concern
Loud, chronic, or disruptive snoring can signal a more serious underlying health issue, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep due to an airway blockage or narrowing. This blockage causes a person to gasp, snort, or choke as their brain briefly rouses them to resume breathing. These episodes can occur five to 30 times or more per hour, disrupting deep, restorative sleep.
Common symptoms associated with OSA include excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, morning headaches, and a dry mouth or sore throat upon waking. Individuals may also experience mood changes, such as irritability or depression, and restless sleep. These symptoms arise from fragmented sleep and reduced oxygen levels due to repeated breathing interruptions.
Untreated severe snoring or OSA carries various broader health risks. It is strongly linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, as repeated drops in blood oxygen and surges in heart rate strain the cardiovascular system. This can elevate the risk of heart disease, including coronary artery disease, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, and congestive heart failure. OSA also increases the likelihood of stroke and can be associated with metabolic issues like type 2 diabetes.
Seeking medical evaluation is advisable if snoring is consistently loud, disruptive, or accompanied by any of the concerning symptoms mentioned. If a sleep partner observes pauses in breathing, gasping, or choking noises during sleep, or if you experience excessive daytime fatigue, it is important to consult a healthcare provider. A medical professional can assess the cause of the snoring and determine if treatment for a sleep disorder like OSA is necessary.