It is more common for a man to snore, and usually, men snore twice as much as women. But did you know that women can snore just as much when they become older? The reason for this may be a bit shocking. See below to see what causes snoring in women.
Top 5 Reasons Why Women Snore
Age
As we age our muscles weaken, we lose muscle tone, and this is the case with our palate as well. So when we inhale air as we sleep, the flap in the back of your throat begins to vibrate more than usual since the muscle tone isn’t as strong as it was before. This can be a factor in your sudden snoring.
Hormones
Hormones can take a toll on our bodies in numerous ways, it is surprising that hormones can be a significant factor in our snoring as well. However, it is common for women that are experiencing menopause to start snoring. As stated in an article this is mainly due ” to falling levels of female sex hormone oestrogen, which — as well as regulating the menstrual cycle —also plays a role in keeping the muscles and soft tissues around the windpipe strong”. (Read the full article) . Those muscles relax and make it more difficult for you to breathe, hence you begin to snore.
Weight Gain
Gaining extra weight can put pressure on our chest and lungs. As a result, this can make it difficult for people to sleep and may snore since there is more stress on the body from the extra weight.
Diabetes
Excessive snoring can also be a sign of diabetes, other symptoms can include fatigue, excess sweating and weight gain. This is typically considered type 2 diabetes. If any of these symptoms persist it is best to check with your doctor.
Sleep Apnea
This disorder is severe and may be difficult to detect because many people are entirely unaware that they have it. This disorder is when your breathing becomes irregular either because of a blockage in the airway or because the brain is not getting the appropriate messages to continue breathing naturally during sleep. If you would like to learn more about sleep apnea, the types and the symptoms see my other post.
So here are the top 5 reasons women may snore. If you haven’t snored before and now am these may be the causes. If this persists as mentioned before it could be an underlying issue that may need to be addressed by your doctor. I hope you enjoyed this post and feel free to share your thoughts and comments!
