Many people snore, and the question often comes up asking “Is snoring hereditary?” The answer is it could be in some circumstances, while in others the cause for snoring could be due to lifestyle choices. When it comes to possible hereditary factors, here are some of the top ways to answer the question, “Is snoring hereditary?”
Snoring caused by genetics
When we take a look at possible snoring caused by genetics, one of the possible reasons could be due to the shape of a person’s face, an abnormality in their airway or some kind of craniofacial problem. The following are examples of genetic reasons that could cause a person to snore:
Large Tongues
For example, if a person has a very large tongue, it could fall backward and block their airway while they are sleeping, which then causes them to snore. Our tongue is tied directly to the back of our throats, and that’s the origin point of most snoring sessions.
Retrognathia or overbite
Someone who has retrognathia, otherwise known as an overbite, are very likely to snore since their jaw sits further back than in a normal shaped mouth. This results in the airway getting narrowed, which then makes them snore or they could even develop a more serious condition called sleep apnea, which causes periods of when they stop breathing.
Small Airways
A person can be born with an airway that is too narrow or too small. This results in air restrictions, so the person could end up snoring. Another airway issue that could cause snoring that is possibly genetic is when the person has less control of the muscles in their airway, which can be caused by their face being narrower.
Large Neck
If a man has a neck that measures more than 16.5 inches, it is another genetic feature that could cause them to snore. However, sometimes a larger neck is due to lifestyle choices that cause them to be obese, which also could contribute to snoring.
Markers in the blood
You may not be aware of it, but there are actually genetic markers that have been found in the blood that have been shown to correlate to snoring.
If someone has one of these blood markers, along with a family history of snorers, then it is quite possible their snoring is due to genetic reasons.
In fact, at least one study says that if you come from a family that snores a lot, you could be three times more likely to become a snorer yourself.
Being male
Men are found more commonly found to be snorers, so if you are a male and you snore, it could be considered as a genetic reasons for it.
Lifestyle Reasons for Snoring
In actuality, sometimes a person snores due to both lifestyle and genetic reasons.
For instance, a person could be obese due to lifestyle choices of overeating or not exercising, but in some cases genetics can also cause someone to be overweight.
For instance, genetics can determine the amount of body fat a person has and how efficient their body is at using the calories eaten.
So, if someone gains weight due to a genetic reason, and have more fat or poor muscle tone in the area of the neck and throat, this could result in them being a snorer.
That is due to the fact that a fatter neck puts more force on a person’s airway, which then causes their windpipe to get narrower or even totally cut off their breathing.
If the latter occurs, it can cause the aforementioned sleep apnea.
Alcohol and/or Smoking Can Cause Snoring
A true lifestyle choice that can lead to someone being a snorer is if they use alcohol excessively or if they smoke.
Since alcohol is a depressant, it will relax the muscles in the throat, which can cause breathing restriction, which in turn make the person snore when they sleep after a night of drinking.
Smoking cigarettes or other forms of smoking can make a person’s airway swell up, which once again causes the airway to shrink and thereby restricts their breathing and makes them snore.
The bottom line is that in order to answer the question, “Is snoring hereditary?” you have to consider two conclusions.
Firstly, there are some genetic reasons that can cause someone to become a snorer, however, in many cases it is also a mix of having one of these genetic reasons combined with one of the lifestyle changes like smoking or drinking alcohol.
So, if you snore, it’s best to get an examination by a doctor to diagnose the problem, as well as check you for dangerous sleep apnea.