There’s no doubt that people are chasing to get more hours of sleep at night, as increasing responsibilities eat up more time during the day. And while you might easily be able to plop down in bed and drift off to dreamland, if you’re a snorer, you may be leaving your partner tossing and turning.
For partners living with someone who snores, it’s easy to wonder if you’re losing patience as your loved one’s snoring seems louder by the year. Digging deeper, you’ll realize that it’s not your imagination: snoring does get worse over time, and we’re here to tell you what makes it increase with age.
1. Snoring Gets Louder as Your Muscle Tone Gets Weaker
People can snore at any age, but it becomes more consistent and obvious for adults over 35-years-old. Factors like your weight, sleep position, allergies, and more can impact your snoring tendencies, but the primary culprit behind the noise is due to your muscles around the soft palate, tongue, and throat relaxing.
This can block the airway, which causes the surrounding tissues to vibrate. Unfortunately, your muscle tone in your body can decrease over time, including the tissues in your throat. As mentioned above, this eventually leads to frequent and louder snoring as your throat lacks sufficient muscular tension to let air move freely through your nose and throat.
2. Snoring Gets Louder as You Put on More Weight
Age comes with wisdom, but it can also come with weight gain, especially for older adults who don’t have a physically active lifestyle. People also tend to put on more weight around the neck, which can narrow down your airway. Laying down at night can make it harder to breathe with a tight opening, resulting in incessant snoring.
3. Snoring Gets Louder as Menopause Takes Over Your Later Years
For women, although menopause brings the benefit of getting rid of the aggravation of a monthly menstrual cycle, the hormonal changes can make matters worse for your snoring problem. In addition to struggling with mood swings, the reduced estrogen and progesterone levels can relax the activity in your airway’s muscle tones.
As you know by now, weak muscles surrounding the throat leads to snoring, but the drop in hormones can cause your airway almost to close up completely, increasing the risk of developing chronic sleep apnea down the line.
Aging Comes with Plenty of Changes, Including More Snoring
People deal with major changes as they age, including weight changes and hormonal shifts. The tendency to snore can also skyrocket and become a major impact on your overall health. Snoring can increase your chances of developing sleep apnea, so it’s best to detect the signs of snoring as early as you can.
Sleep Doctor in Jacksonville, FL
If you’re looking for a sleep apnea specialist or sleep doctor in Jacksonville, FL, to get quality sleep apnea treatment, our team at Jacksonville Sleep Center is your best option. You deserve a good night’s sleep, contact us today!
