It is difficult to know whether you’re snoring or not unless someone sleeping next to you (your partner) tells you about it. Habitual snorers (who likely have sleep apnoea) might experience symptoms like:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Morning headaches
- A sore throat
- Restless sleep
- Choking, snorting or gasping at night
- Waking up with short breath
- Chest pain
When to see a doctor?
See a doctor if snoring causes you or your partner problems. Snoring may be an indication of an underlying problem more serious than this one. Always trust the leading or best medical institutions for treatment and care, like Paras Hospitals group, which have specialized departments for such conditions.
Causes and Risk Factors
These could be the causes of snoring:
- Anatomy of the mouth: Having low or thick soft palates can narrow the airway. Having an elongated uvula has the same effect
- Sleep deprivation: Not getting enough sleep relaxes the throat, which can lead to snoring
- Sleep position: Sleeping on the back narrows the airway due to gravity
- Sleep apnoea: Is the most likely cause for habitual snorers
Risk Factors include:
- Being overweight: More tissue narrows the airway leading to snoring
- Alcohol consumption: Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles and can cause airway obstruction
- Nasal problems: Like nasal congestion can cause snoring
- Taking sedatives: Relaxes throat muscles leading to snoring
- Family history: If anyone in your immediate family snores or has sleep apnoea, this could be a factor