According to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2002 poll, 37% of people — both male and female — snore at least a few nights per week. 

And that percentage increases with age: the age group most affected by snoring is 55-64 year olds. 

With such a large percentage of people breathing noisily at night, it’s easy to wonder… is snoring mostly caused by genetics or lifestyle choices? And what can be done, if anything, to reduce it? 

Like most things, snoring has both genetic and non-genetic causes. Let’s take a look at the role genetics play in snoring, as well as some other factors that affect it. Finally, we’ll discuss some action steps you can take to avoid or minimize snoring.

Some other causes of snoring besides genetics and obesity include:

1. Age

The older you get, the more likely you are to experience obstructive sleep apnea (resulting in snoring). This may be due to the fact that as you age, the muscles in your throat begin to weaken, restricting airflow in ways you may not have previously experienced.

2. Gender

Did you know that males are 7-10 times more likely to snore than females? There are still a significant number of women who struggle with snoring, but the likelihood of snoring is much greater for men.

3. Nasal Congestion

Nasal congestion due to allergies or the common cold can restrict air passages — especially at night, as excess mucus drains into the throat. This can cause snoring for the duration of the cold. So people who don’t usually snore may find that they snore occasionally when under the weather.

4. Smoking

Anything that irritates or constricts the air passageways in the throat could result in snoring, so smoking can greatly affect the frequency and severity of snoring.

Snoring can range in severity from super mild and barely noticeable to extremely disruptive. 

If you’re on the mild side of the snoring spectrum, the good news is you don’t necessarily need to take drastic measures to combat your snoring, because it’s probably not doing you any harm. Try a few of the tips in this article to optimize your sleep for silence.

But if you fall on the more extreme side of the continuum, it’s likely that your snoring is affecting your sleep quality (and the sleep quality of anyone who shares your bedroom).

If your snoring is causing you or your partner to lose sleep, or you suspect that your snoring is related to sleep apnea (irregular breathing during sleep), you may want to seek medical help.

If you have a family history of snoring and it isn’t affecting your sleep (or the sleep of those around you), then most likely you have nothing to worry about. 

But if your snoring begins to be disruptive, or is linked to more serious concerns like obesity or sleep apnea, then you should have a conversation with your doctor. They will help you understand how your snoring can be managed, so that you (and those around you) are getting the best sleep possible.

Sources:

(1) Carmelli, Dorit et al. “Genetic Factors in Self-reported Snoring and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness." American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1164/ajrccm.164.6.2012001. Accessed 25 Oct. 2019.

(2) “Snoring and Sleep." National Sleep Foundation, www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/snoring-and-sleep. Accessed 25 Oct. 2019.

Disclaimer:  The information contained in this website or provided through our blog, e-mails, or programs is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment that can be provided by your healthcare professionals.