What Factors Can Lead To Snoring?

Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol consumption can worsen an individual's overall quality of sleep and make them snore. Some individuals will have a glass of wine or beer at night to help them get to sleep. While it's true that alcohol will make individuals drowsier, it won't help with their sleep in the long term. Alcohol functions as a depressant. In addition to causing the brain to relax and become sleepy, it also relaxes the muscles. An individual's throat and jaw become looser, which leads the muscles to collapse and narrow their air passages. Some individuals even develop mild sleep apnea due to the alcohol depressant effects, which means their breathing periodically stops during sleep.

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Throat Weakness

Weakness in the throat can make an individual more likely to snore. If their throat muscles aren't strong enough, they may collapse as they fall asleep. When this is combined with a narrow throat, individuals may be predisposed to louder snoring. Narrow throat passages are genetically inherited. Individuals can't do much to correct them, but they can use other methods to reduce their risk of snoring. Throat weakness may be accompanied by dysphagia, which is a difficulty with swallowing. Dysphagia often occurs alongside degenerative illnesses like Parkinson's disease. However, it may also be a temporary side effect of a less serious illness like the common cold.

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