Why Do I Snore At Night?

Snoring is more than a nuisance to you and your sleeping partner, as it is often a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed, but it is a serious medical condition that needs to be treated to protect your health. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to issues with memory and concentration, but is also linked to cardiovascular disease.

Coastal Virginia Sleep Solutions is a Poquoson, VA sleep center that can help you identify potential causes of snoring so you can take the right steps to getting better sleep.

Your Age

As we age, the body begins to lose muscle tone. The muscles that make up the airway can collapse during sleep with reduced muscle tone, and so can the tongue and throat muscles. A blocked airway often results in snoring.

Your Weight

People who are overweight tend to be snorers. This is due to excess fat tissue surrounding the airway placing pressure on the airway during sleep. Certain sleeping positions can exacerbate this problem.

Your Bad Habits

Drinking alcohol and smoking can increase your risk of snoring. Alcohol increases muscle relaxation, which disrupts airflow and causes snoring. Smoking causes irritation and inflammation to throat muscles and nasal passages which can also disrupt airflow and cause snoring.

Your Sleep Posture

Sleeping on your back makes you more likely to snore. The tissues in the back of the throat can fall back over the airway while you sleep, disrupting airflow and causing snoring. If you are a back sleeper and you snore, try sleeping on your side to see if it eliminates snoring.

Schedule a Sleep Study

You deserve to have a good night’s sleep. Contact Coastal Virginia Sleep Solutions to schedule your sleep study to determine the best way to treat your sleep disorder. There are several different treatment options depending on your unique condition.