What comes to your mind when the topic of snoring comes up?
Your best guess would probably be ‘old grandpa’ or a ‘tired worker’, and you totally leave out women from your imagination.
However, a 2014 study revealed that snoring affects up to 19% women and 30% men.
The study also revealed that the causes of snoring are pretty much the same in both men and women, but there are some causes that are specific to women.
Snoring itself is not an illness, but it can lead to a series of health issues such as stroke, heart attacks, and high BP.
If snoring is associated with daytime sleepiness, dizziness, poor concentration and so on, there is a possibility that there may be a serious health issue such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
In addition, snoring has been found to create problems in many relationships. There are relationships that have hit the rocks because a partner suddenly began to snore.
The loud noise generated by snoring can be quite disturbing and cause great discomfort. The loudness of snoring varies depending on the severity or the causes.
There are several conditions that can be misinterpreted of misdiagnosed as snoring due to the similarities in symptoms.
One of such conditions is hypothyroidism which shares some of the symptoms that snoring presents.
While some people do not consider snoring to be a serious problem and can live with it, others think it is real health issue that needs attention.
In this article, we are going to explore some of the causes of snoring in females.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is one of the leading causes of snoring in women, and this is so for obvious reasons.
During pregnancy, women tend to undergo numerous changes including physical, emotional, hormonal and so on.
A woman’s oestrogen levels are at a higher level during pregnancy, which also leads to an rise in blood count. These two factors trigger the mucus membranes to secret more often than usual. This will lead to nasal congestion, which increases the possibility snoring in women.
Another pregnancy related factor is weight gain. As the baby grows so does the weight of a woman’s body, which increases that pressure on the diaphragm. This can also make a woman snore.
Exhaustion
Another common cause of snoring in women is exhaustion.
More women are engaging in more daily activities compared to many decades ago when women were expected to be just homemakers.
Today, there are more women who hold high positions at organizations, and women who are working in jobs that have always been male dominated.
Also, there are more sports with women categories, and this is in addition to their responsibilities at him regarding their families.
All these tough and engaging activities will definitely contribute to an high level of exhaustion in more women.
Several researches have explained how the body reacts to exhaustion even in sleep.
A woman that has gone through the hustle and bustle of the day and because tired and worn out will definitely fall into deep sleep.
At this point the muscles become lax due to a lack of energy.
This makes it a lot more easier for a woman in this situation to breathe through her mouth.
This is so because the tongue could have fallen to the back of their throat, preventing air from passing through easily.
The result of this is snoring.
Weight gain
Women tend to experience weight gain at different points in their lives.
For some women, weight gain could naturally occur due to hormonal changes, while for others it could be as a result of the combination of diet and hormonal imbalance.
There are two major points where females experience remarkable weight gain, which could be during pregnancy or menopause.
At these two stages a females metabolism changes.
Also, obesity is which can be hereditary or caused by overeating is a leading cause of snoring in women. However, studies revealed that obesity is not the cause per see, but a matter of fat distribution around the neck region.
Additional weight gain simply means an increase in stored fat and excess skin build up.
The excess fat that builds up around the neck can constrict the throat.
The pressure prevents air from flowing easily through the airway as the air is forced into small spaces which cause vibrations.
These vibrations are what result in snoring in women.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that is common to both men and women.
This disorder is also one of the known reasons why men and women snore.
The thing about sleep apnea is that it can be quite difficult to detect.
This is because most people who have it are not aware that they do.
This disorder is a result of a blockage in the airway, or as a result of the brain not receiving the message it needs to keep natural breathing going during sleep.
However, there are some signs that may point out sleep apnea as the problem.
When sleep apnea is identified, a medical professional must be approached in order to ascertain the severity of the disorder.
It is important to know if it is due to the anatomical structure of the upper airway so that the appropriate medication can be administered.
Conclusion
Women who snore should have no reason to feel embarrassed because snoring is more popular among women than is generally believed.
With several research and studies carried out, it is stated that one in every five women snore, and that number rises to about two in every five from the age of sixty years and above.
Society also plays a major role in how women who snore are perceived.
Women are also less likely to seek medical help for snoring than men, which in turn makes it lot harder to for the condition to be understood in women.
It is important to understand the risk factors of snoring so that they can be addressed before they have a negative effect on your individual lives and relationships.