Snoring is the hoarse or harsh sound produced when air flows past relaxed tissues in the throat, causing them to vibrate as you breathe during sleep. This vibration occurs because the tissues—like the soft palate, tongue, and throat muscles—relax enough to partially block the airway, making the airflow turbulent. While occasional snoring is common, a sudden increase in its frequency or intensity suggests a recent change in your body or environment. Understanding these specific reasons can help determine if medical attention is necessary.
Lifestyle and Positional Factors
Recent changes in personal habits or sleep posture are often the immediate cause of new or worsening snoring. Alcohol consumption, especially close to bedtime, acts as a muscle relaxant, causing the throat muscles to become slack. This relaxation allows soft tissues to collapse more readily into the airway, increasing turbulence and the resulting snoring sound. Similarly, certain medications, such as muscle relaxants, some sleeping pills, and sedatives, can have a similar effect on muscle tone, making the airway more prone to obstruction during sleep.
A recent gain in body weight, particularly around the neck, can also be a significant factor. Excess fatty tissue deposited in the throat narrows the upper airway, and this compression makes the soft tissues more likely to vibrate. For men, a neck circumference of 17 inches or more, and for women, 16 inches or more, is associated with a higher risk of breathing issues during sleep.
Sleeping on your back, known as the supine position, is the posture most likely to cause or intensify snoring. In this position, gravity pulls the tongue and the soft palate backward toward the throat, which narrows the airway. The restricted space causes the air to move faster and with greater force, leading to louder tissue vibration. Side sleeping often alleviates this issue by keeping the airway open and preventing the collapse of the soft tissues.
Respiratory and Airway Blockages
Temporary conditions that affect the respiratory system are frequent causes of acute snoring. Allergies, such as seasonal hay fever or reactions to dust and pet dander, lead to inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages. This congestion restricts airflow through the nose, often forcing a switch to mouth breathing during the night. Mouth breathing can destabilize the upper airway and increase the vibration of the throat tissues, making snoring worse.
Colds and sinus infections create temporary blockages due to congestion and mucus buildup. When the nasal passages are blocked, the increased resistance draws the soft tissues of the throat inward, which intensifies the snoring sound. Dry air can also irritate the lining of the throat and nasal passages, causing swelling that further restricts breathing.
While some structural issues, like a deviated septum or enlarged tonsils, are chronic, they may only cause noticeable snoring when combined with acute factors. For example, a person with a naturally narrow throat may only start snoring when a mild cold or increased allergies cause swelling to obstruct the limited space. The temporary nature of these respiratory issues often explains why snoring may appear suddenly and resolve once the illness or allergic reaction passes.
When Snoring Signals a Deeper Health Concern
Snoring is sometimes a symptom of a more serious sleep disorder known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA is characterized by repeated episodes where the airway completely or partially collapses, causing breathing to stop or become shallow for ten seconds or more. The loud snoring in OSA is often punctuated by silence, followed by a loud snort, gasp, or choking sound as the brain briefly wakes the body to resume breathing.
If the snoring is accompanied by persistent daytime fatigue, waking up with a dry throat, or frequent morning headaches, it may signal that your sleep is fragmented and unrefreshing due to OSA. These symptoms occur because repeated breathing interruptions lead to drops in blood oxygen levels and prevent the body from reaching restorative deep sleep. A bed partner observing gasping or choking sounds is a significant warning sign that warrants medical attention.
Consulting a healthcare professional, such as a sleep specialist, is appropriate if the snoring is loud, consistent, and affecting your quality of life. A doctor may recommend a sleep study, which monitors breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and heart rate during sleep to diagnose OSA. Addressing OSA is important because untreated sleep-disordered breathing can increase the risk of health issues, including high blood pressure and heart problems.