Why am I snoring all of a sudden?
What are some of the sudden causes of snoring?
The old saw-mill is at it again. Heeeee, hooooo. Snoring can be an embarrassing and problematic issue. It can also be a sign of worse sleeping problems, which makes it an important factor to look at when concerned with your overall health. It can be caused by many factors, and the exact cause can vary from person to person. Monitoring your snoring and sleep health is important for determining when you should seek medical care.
What happens when you snore?
The main overarching factor that causes snoring is muscle relaxation. When you sleep, you relax, and that includes your throat muscles and tongue. These muscles, as air passes through them, vibrate against each other and result in the sounds you hear. Snoring sounds can be loud or very light, and in severe cases snoring can disturb your own sleep and that of others around you.
Why am I snoring all of a sudden?
There are several reasons why someone might experience an increase in their snoring suddenly or over time:
Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol itself is bad for you, and even worse for the quality of your sleep. Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it inhibits the central nervous system. This, in turn, relaxes the respiratory muscles and allows that vibration that causes the snoring sounds you hear.
Weight Gain
Weight gain can cause many issues associated with your sleep hygiene and breathing. This fatty tissue buildup around the throat can narrow the airway, making the vibrations much more probable. If you’ve put on a bit of weight recently, this could cause your sudden snoring!
Age Related
As we get older our muscles in general get weaker and that includes the muscles in our throat and mouth. These result in breathing changes during sleep, and sometimes snoring.
Sickness/Allergies
Allergies and colds can cause mucus buildup in our nasal passages and throat. These obstructions can restrict the airway and cause breathing to be difficult while sleeping. When we breathe through our mouth (due to a congested nose), snoring becomes much more likely.
Is snoring always bad?
Luckily, not always! Milder snores can indicate that you’re gettin good quality sleep, and it also indicates that actual breathing is happening. One of the most common sleep disruptions, sleep apnea, involves the rapid restriction of breathing and can result in extremely poor quality sleep. If your partner is not ever hearing anything while you’re sleeping, that might be an even more serious indicator of your sleep health. However, if your partner is complaining about noisy nights, then it may be worth checking to see if you have obstructive sleep apnea. Make sure to consult your doctor, typically this will involve a sleep study that will confirm your apnea diagnosis.
How can I stop my sudden onset of snoring?
It’s worth testing a few of the above hypotheses, to determine the cause of your snoring. If you’re consuming alcohol, then spend a few nights abstaining. If your snoring clears up, or lessens, congratulations! If you’ve gained a few pounds recently, and believe that that may have something to do with your new snoring, it may be worth beginning your weight loss journey. You may be able to take a couple off to sleep and feel better! If you’re sick, or your allergies are acting up try using a decongestant or anti-histamine before bed to give your airways some more space.
Conclusion
Lifestyle and health changes can definitely result in an onset of snoring more than usual. It’s important to look at this onset of snoring, not just for the sake of your partner! If you’re snoring much louder than usual, or if you’ve suddenly stopped snoring at all– make sure to go to a doctor to check for any underlying issues.
