Why Do People Snore So Loud?

Loud snoring can disrupt the sleep of the person sleeping next to the snorer and those in the nearby room. It can even negatively affect relationships. There are ways to block out the sound, but snoring also increases the snorer’s risk of having certain health conditions. Also, although some answers to “Why do people snore so loud?” are similar to those of regular snoring, loud snoring can be a symptom of something more serious.

Allow us to help you understand why the loudness of snoring increases and why a person snores loudly whenever they sleep.

Why Does Snoring Intensity Increases?

Some people snore regularly because of nasal and oropharyngeal anatomical issues, family history, pregnancy, and other physiological or pathological causes. When adding one or more factors to an existing cause, the snoring intensity increases. Most experts agree that the most common factors that can lead to louder snoring are as follows:

• Increased Weight: Weight gain leads to increased or excess neck tissue, decreasing the airway size and leading to a possible airway collapse.
• Aging: Some people who don’t snore will start snoring as they age. Likewise, regular or chronic snorers begin to snore louder than usual as they age. The reason is that the airway tissue muscles and the tongue weaken, constricting the airways.
• Recent Alcohol and Sedative Consumption: Consuming any of these substances before going to bed causes airway tissue muscle relaxation. This condition restricts airflow in the snorer’s nose, mouth, and throat and decreases a person’s natural defense against airway obstruction.
• Sleeping Position: Experts recommend that snorers sleep on their backs (supine position) instead of their sides. In the supine position, the airway becomes narrower due to the gravity pulling the tissues down, so the snoring intensity increases.
• Nasal Congestion: One will also commonly snore louder than usual because of conditions that cause nasal congestion, such as allergies, colds, and rhinitis. Having a dry environment can also lead to nasal congestion.

What Health Conditions Cause Loud Snoring?

If your loved one snores loudly whenever they sleep, you might want to convince them to visit a professional. That’s because particular health issues require specific management and long-term treatment. Some of these known health conditions are:

Upper Airway Inflammation and Obstruction

Nasal congestion, which we discussed earlier, is an example of upper airway obstruction. However, those included in this category don’t just intensify the snoring; sufferers experience regular, loud snoring.

The most common upper airway inflammation and obstruction that cause this kind of loud snoring are long-term smoking, asthma, and COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Some individuals who regularly snore loudly also have nasal passage polyps and enlarged tonsils or tongues.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

One of the possible causes of loud snoring is obstructive sleep apnea or OSA, a condition wherein there is partial or complete airway collapse. You’ll notice that sufferers will snore loudly followed by a period of silence when they stop breathing and then snort, choke, or gasp when they resume breathing. This cycle causes sleep disruptions or multiple waking-sleeping episodes, so person’s with OSA usually have morning headaches and sleepiness.

OSA is a manageable sleep-related breathing disorder. However, most cases are left undiagnosed because most sufferers don’t seek professional advice, thinking they only suffer from typical snoring.

Hypothyroidism

People with hypothyroidism have underactive thyroid glands, leading to the insufficient production of certain hormones. They experience shortness of breath, fatigue, and sleep apnea because of decreased lung function and weakened respiratory muscles. Some also have inflamed tongues.

Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome

The most common causes of UARS are collapsed throat fatty tissue, narrowed airways, and/or blocked throat because the tongue falls at the back. These are the reasons why sufferers snore loudly and have difficulty breathing. They’re also why UARS can be mistaken as sleep apnea.

The difference is that the disrupted breathing episode in UARS is only mild. Most sleep apnea sufferers are also overweight, while UARS sufferers can have a healthy weight or are overweight.

Why Do People Snore So Loud?

When a loved one snores, it’s best to determine how intense or loud the snoring is and how often they snore. Snoring once in a while is generally okay because it can only be due to exhaustion or lack of sleep. In terms of loud snoring, it can be due to either a combination of the causes of regular or habitual snoring or a more serious health condition.

It is best to consult a medical professional when you or your loved one snores regularly, whether softly or loudly. Doing so will help you determine the cause of your snoring and have it treated properly and as early as possible. After all, snoring and its causes can lead to other chronic health conditions and chronic sleep loss and sleep disorders that can affect the quality of your life and your loved one’s.