Having to breathe through your mouth while sleeping at night, snoring loudly and disturbing the sleep of those around you—this is a major health problem seen in most people today. Although many people dismiss it as a trivial matter, chronic nasal congestion and snoring can be a symptom of serious conditions that prevent the body from getting enough oxygen. It is caused by obstructions in the airways. Here are the 5 major scientific reasons behind this:
Sinusitis and Allergies: The most important scientific cause of nasal congestion is allergies and sinus infections. When dust, smoke, and pollen in the air are inhaled, the soft skin inside the nose becomes severely swollen (Allergic Rhinitis). Along with this, the infection caused by the accumulation of mucus in the air cavities (Sinus) inside the cheekbones completely blocks the air flow in the nose, which causes breathing through the mouth and snoring.
Deviated Nasal Septum (DNS): This is a curve in the middle bone that separates the two nostrils. When this bridge is deviated to one side, either hereditary or due to falls and injuries during childhood, the airflow on that side is severely blocked and chronic nasal congestion occurs. This obstruction causes severe snoring when the air hits the muscles during sleep.
Enlarged Tonsils & Adenoids: The main cause of snoring and nasal congestion in children and young adults is the swelling and enlargement of the tonsils in the throat and the adenoids glands behind the nose due to infection. These reduce the size of the airway, making it difficult for the child to breathe and cause the child to open their mouth and snore during sleep.
Obesity and throat fat: Excessive weight gain is the main scientific reason for increased snoring. Fat that accumulates around the neck puts excessive pressure on the airway while sleeping and narrows it. When air passes through this narrow passage, the soft muscles in the throat (soft palate) vibrate violently, resulting in the sound of snoring.
Sleep apnea and throat muscle relaxation (Obstructive Sleep Apnea – OSA): This is a fatal condition in which the airway becomes completely blocked during sleep and breathing temporarily stops for a few seconds. This condition is caused by excessive relaxation of the throat muscles as you age, drink alcohol, and take sleeping pills. This leads to heavy snoring and the risk of heart attack.
