Why do people snore? There are a few factors to consider. When you sleep, your body goes through a lot of different changes. The majority of these changes happen when you transition from a very light sleep to a deep sleep. One of these changes takes place in the roof of your mouth. The soft palate, your tongue, and your throat relax. These tissues may relax so much that they start to block the passage of air into your body. Your airways start to vibrate, and this is what causes the sound of snoring.
The narrower your airways become, the more forceful the air that travels through them is. This, of course, increases the vibration that happens in your throat, and so your snoring goes from a mild rumble to a loud roar.
Some people have a lower, thicker soft palate. This makes your airway smaller. Also, if you are overweight, you likely have extra tissue in the back of your throat, and this will also make that airway smaller. Some people have a longer than average uvula, and this can block their airflow, causing the vibration and snoring sound to become more powerful.
As we said at the outset, snoring happens when the tissues in the back of your mouth relax. This is one of the reasons why people will snore more often after they have consumed alcohol. If you drink too much alcohol before going to bed, your throat muscles are even more relaxed. Your body has natural reflexes that prevent air obstruction when you sleep. However, excessive alcohol consumption deactivates these defenses and leads to snoring.
Surprisingly, not getting enough sleep can cause you to snore. When you don’t get enough sleep and finally lay down, your body is so exhausted that it relaxes itself more than normal. This relaxation takes place in the throat, leading to snoring.
Obstructive sleep apnea has been connected to snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea is a very dangerous and serious condition. This is because your throat becomes partially or completely blocked. While you are sleeping, you actually stop breathing.
In most cases, snoring is not dangerous. But it can affect your sleep and the sleep of those around you. For this reason, it is beneficial to seek assistance in correcting the problems that are causing you to snore. Talk to the team at Ayala ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery to see how we can help with your snoring. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!