Why do I snore when I didn't before? Explanation & Solutions

Why I snore when I didn't before can be both surprising and confusing.

This phenomenon, often associated with various factors such as:

• age,
• lifestyle,
• or even health problems,
• merits in-depth exploration to understand the causes and identify possible solutions.

Breathing, essential to our well-being, can be affected by various factors that lead to snoring.

Whether it's due to obstruction of the airways, a change in the tone of the throat muscles, or the impact of aging on the pharynx, each case of snoring has its own specificities.

Increased adipose tissue around the neck, seasonal allergies, or even habits such as sleeping on your back can aggravate this situation.

What is snoring and why does it occur?

Find out what lies behind night-time noise.

Snoring, that sometimes disturbing soundtrack of our nights, is the result of partial obstruction of the upper airways during sleep.

Imagine the passage of air through a narrow corridor, where the soft tissues of the throat and palate vibrate with each breath, producing the characteristic sound of snoring.

This phenomenon may be occasional, triggered by factors such as:

• the sleeping position,
• a cold,
• or alcohol consumption.

For some, however, it is a more regular companion and may signal underlying health problems such as sleep apnea.

Distinguishing between occasional and chronic snoring is crucial, as it points to underlying causes and potential solutions.

The usual culprits include nasal obstruction due to allergies, overweight causing additional pressure on the airways, or anatomical features such as an elongated uvula or deviated septum.

💊Physiological changes with age

As we age, our bodies undergo various changes that can influence the way we breathe during sleep.

Loss of muscle tone in the throat, for example, can make tissues more likely to vibrate and thus produce the sound of snoring.

The airways can also narrow with age, increasing air resistance and exacerbating snoring. These physiological changes, combined with other factors such as weight gain or the onset of respiratory disorders like sleep apnea, make snoring more likely as we age.

Why did I start snoring?

Lifestyle habits and health play a key role.

If you find yourself snoring when it's never happened to you before, several factors could be at play.

💊Why is weight gain one of the main factors?

Even a few extra kilos can increase pressure on the airways, making it harder for air to pass through during sleep.

💊Why alcohol and smoking are factors in snoring?

Alcohol and smoking are also notorious factors:

• alcohol relaxes throat muscles,
• while tobacco can irritate and inflame the airways, exacerbating snoring.

💊Why do allergies affect snoring?

Not to be outdone, allergies can cause congestion and narrowing of the nasal passages, leading to snoring.

💊Do other factors exist?

Even without pre-existing allergies, environmental factors such as dust or dust mites can provoke a similar reaction.

In addition, underlying medical conditions, such as sleep apnea or ENT (ear, nose and throat) problems, can manifest themselves in snoring.

💊Lifestyle changes influencing snoring

Lifestyle habits play a significant role in snoring.

Sleeping on your back, for example, causes the tissues in your throat to relax and become partially obstructed, which can lead to snoring.

Adopting a sideways position during sleep can help reduce this phenomenon.

Similarly, a pre-bedtime routine has an impact on sleep quality: alcohol consumption or the use of sleeping pills can excessively relax throat muscles, promoting snoring.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet help maintain a healthy weight, which can reduce or eliminate snoring in overweight people.

Treating nasal allergies and maintaining a clean, allergen-free sleep environment can also play a crucial role.

How do I know if my snoring is a problem?

When snoring sounds the alarm for your health.

Asking yourself whether your snoring is simply a nuisance or a symptom of an underlying problem is crucial.

Certain warning signs should not be ignored.

If you wake up often:

• dry throat,
• suffer from morning headaches,
• or if your partner reports pauses in breathing while you sleep, it's time to take things seriously.

Likewise:

• excessive daytime sleepiness,
• difficulty concentrating,
• or even hypertension can be indicators of more serious conditions, such as sleep apnea.

Self-assessment is a useful first step, but it's no substitute for professional advice.

If your snoring is accompanied by these symptoms, or if you have concerns about its frequency and intensity, consulting an ENT specialist or sleep doctor becomes essential.

Recognizing these signs and acting on them can not only improve your sleep, but also prevent potential health complications.

💊Medical tests and diagnostics

Health professionals have several tools at their disposal to assess the severity of your snoring and determine whether it's linked to sleep disorders such as apnea.

One of the most common tests is polysomnography usually performed in a sleep centeA.This test records a variety of bodily functions during sleep, such as brain waves, oxygen levels in the blood, heart rhythms and breathing.

For those who prefer the comfort of home, home sleep studies are also available. Although they don't provide as much data as laboratory polysomnography, these studies can be a good starting point for diagnosing sleep apnea.

Familiarizing yourself with these options will enable you to approach the medical consultation with a better understanding of what to expect.

💊Impact on quality of life

Snoring not only affects the snorer's quality of sleep but can also have a significant impact on overall health and daily well-being.

 Untreated sleep disorders can lead to problems:

• concentration,
• irritability,
• and increase the risk of more serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease.

What's more, the quality of personal relationships can suffer, especially if snoring disrupts a partner's sleep.

How to stop snoring: Solutions and treatments

Find silence in the night with the right solutions.

The quest to stop snoring starts with understanding its causes and extends to a range of possible treatments, tailored to each individual.

From simple home remedies to advanced medical interventions, there's a solution for almost every case of snoring.

The initial approach may include lifestyle changes, such as adjusting your sleeping position or losing weight.

For those who need extra help, anti-snoring devices such as nasal strips or mandibular advancement orthosesc an offer significant relief.

In cases where snoring is a symptom of more serious conditions, such as sleep apnea, specific medical treatments are available. These options include the use ofC PAP machines to keep the airways open during sleep, or even surgical interventions to remove physical obstructions.

💊Lifestyle changes and home remedies

Lifestyle modifications can often bring significant improvement to snoring sufferers.

📌 Sleeping on your side rather than on your back can prevent your tongue from blocking your airways.

📌 Losing weight reduces the fat around the neck, reducing pressure on the airways.

📌 Avoiding alcohol before bedtime, as it relaxes throat muscles, can also help reduce snoring.

📌 Home remedies such as humidifying the bedroom to prevent dry nasal passages can also be effective.

💊Medical treatments and assistive devices

For those for whom lifestyle changes and home remedies are not enough, a variety of medical treatments and aids are available.

CPAP machines, the best-known treatments for sleep apnea, provide a constant flow of air to keep the airways open.

Mandibular advancement orthoses, which slightly advance the lower jaw, can also be an effective non-invasive option.

In some cases, surgery may be considered to remove physical obstructions in the airway, such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or soft-tissue volume reduction by radiofrequency.

These procedures are generally reserved for severe cases of snoring or sleep apnea, where other treatments have not been effective.

The key is to consult a healthcare professional to assess the cause of snoring and discuss the most appropriate treatment options.

The Back2Sleep solution, the intranasal orthosis

A revolutionary innovation against snoring.

In the quest for a peaceful , snore-free night's sleep, the intranasal orthosis by Back2Sleep is an innovative and effective solution.

Designed to fit comfortably in the nostrils, this brace works gently to keep the nasal passages open, facilitating airflow and significantly reducing snoring.

This device is ideal for those seeking a non-invasive alternative to medical or surgical treatments.

Using the Back2Sleep orthosis is incredibly simple and suits a wide range of users, including those who have tried other remedies without success.

Frequently asked questions about why I snore when before I didn't?

💊Q. Is snoring hereditary?

1. Yes, in some cases, snoring can be hereditary. Physical characteristics such as the structure of the palate, the size of the tonsils, and other anatomical factors that can contribute to snoring are often passed from generation to generation. However, lifestyle also plays a significant role in snoring.

💊Q. How does snoring affect sleep quality

1. Snoring can significantly disrupt sleep quality, both for the snorer and his or her bed partneA.It can lead to frequent waking, daytime sleepiness and even mood disorders. For snorers, this may indicate obstructed breathing and reduced blood oxygenation during sleep.

💊Q. Are home remedies effective against snoring?

1. Some home remedies can help reduce snoring, including weight loss, sleeping on your side, and using humidifiers to keep the air moist and make breathing easieA.However, their effectiveness varies from person to person, and in cases of severe snoring, consulting a specialist is recommended.

💊Q. When should I see a doctor about my snoring?

1. You should consult a doctor if your snoring is loud and chronic, if you wake up choking or suffocating, or if you suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness. These symptoms could indicate sleep apnea, a potentially serious condition requiring medical intervention.