Snoring affects up to 40% of adults and can cause major sleep disruption both for the snorer and those nearby. What makes people snore however varies between individuals and when looking for solutions it should be understood that the causes of snoring are not always the same in everybody. There are in fact four main types of snoring, each with its own distinct available treatments.
Tongue-based Snoring
Tongue-based snorers are those whose tongue drops to the back of their throat causing an obstruction. The restriction of the airwave creates vibrations as air travels down it, generating the snoring sound. If a person snores more loudly on their back they are likely to be a tongue-based snorer as it is this position which pushes the tongue to the back of the throat.
Mouth-breathers
Mouth-breathers are those who sleep with their mouth open and breath in through it. Generally, air which travels through the nasal cavities does not impact so hard with the back of the throat as that which is inhaled through the mouth. Inhaling through the mouth causes the vibrations which produce snoring sounds simply because the air impacts much harder with the airwave.
Nasal-based Snoring
Nasal-based snoring occurs in those who have small or collapsing nostrils or nasal stuffiness. This encourages mouth-breathing. The snoring sound is produced in the same way as that of a mouth-breather but the cause is different – while mouth-breathers have a natural predilection for breathing through the mouth, nasal-based snoring can be stopped by clearing the obstructions that prevent the person from breathing through the nose.
Palatal Flutter
If none of these apply, the snoring is likely caused by palatal flutter. This is in fact the most common type of snoring and is caused by the vibration of the soft palette at the back of the throat as a person breathes. The larger and softer a person's palette the more prone they are to this type of snoring.
Factors affecting snoring?
There can be many factors which can lead a person to snore in one of the ways described above. Intrinsic (physiological) causes include obesity, pregnancy, menopause, allergies and sleep apnoea. Extrinsic (external) causes might be smoking, alcohol or other drugs, or sleeping position.
Addressing factors such as these which are not endemic to an individual's physical make-up can alleviate and often entirely eliminate the problem. It is not guaranteed, however, and many people who lead perfectly healthy lifestyles are prone to snoring. If you are unsure then you should consult your doctor.
Understanding the causes of snoring before looking for a solution can help you to pick the right anti-snoring treatment. A commonly used test is available on the web here, as well as much more information on snoring, from the British Snoring & Sleep Apneoa society.
References:
The British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Society, "Why Do I Snore?" & "What Can I Do To Stop?" (09 Mar 2010)
