What is it?

Snoring, also known as ronchopathy, refers to a sound produced during sleep. Treatment depends on the underlying causes, which are highly variable and, consequently, require different interventions to improve or resolve the problem, as will be explained in more detail below.

The sound produced is often considered disturbing for the partner and is frequently a source of marital or social problems throughout life. Snoring is commonly associated with weight gain and affects men more than women, although this difference tends to diminish with age. By the age of 60, approximately 60% of men and 45% of women snore.

What causes the sound?

Snoring results from the vibration of the various structures of the upper airway (the palate, pharyngeal walls, tongue base and, in some cases, the epiglottis) during sleep. This vibratory sound is caused by the increased inspiratory effort during sleep, which narrows the entire upper airway (which tends to collapse during deeper inspirations) and makes it more difficult for air to pass towards the lungs.

When airflow becomes difficult but still possible, snoring occurs. When airflow becomes so restricted that air cannot pass, or passes only in very small amounts, an apnoea occurs (the person stops breathing). If these breathing pauses occur frequently during the night, this represents sleep apnoea syndrome.

What are the causes?

The causes of snoring are mainly related to excess weight and tissue laxity of the upper airway. This laxity is normal and occurs in all individuals from around the age of 30–40. As a result, vibration during sleep increases and snoring tends to become louder and more bothersome with advancing age.

There are other causes that may also trigger or worsen snoring, such as poor nasal breathing (due to septal deviation or difficult-to-control rhinitis), enlarged tonsils, or a very prominent tongue base.

Genetic and familial factors may also be involved, such as mandibular retrusion (a “receding chin”) and a so-called high-arched hard palate (“a very narrow roof of the mouth”). There is increasing evidence that snoring and sleep apnoea syndrome may have a familial component.

Situations such as alcohol consumption, very heavy evening meals, extreme fatigue, or the use of certain medications (especially those that relax the pharyngeal muscles, such as some antidepressants, anxiolytics or muscle relaxants) may worsen the clinical picture and cause snoring to become louder and more intense.

Snoring during pregnancy is very common and, to a certain extent, not pathological. Pregnancy induces typical nasal congestion caused by hormonal factors. In addition, weight gain during this period may trigger or worsen snoring. This is usually a temporary condition that develops in the second half of pregnancy and tends to resolve after childbirth. However, it may persist if the original weight is not regained.

Is it curable?

Complete elimination of snoring is extremely difficult to achieve. However, there are several ways to reduce it to acceptable sound levels, which are generally tolerable for the partner.