Snoring in women can be caused by pregnancy, hormones, menopause, genetics, lifestyle habits, and medical conditions. Weight gain, sleep position changes, and hormone changes during pregnancy can lead to snoring. Lifestyle habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking can also contribute to snoring.
Snoring in women can often be an embarrassing dilemma. After all, snoring is an act more associated with men, making women who snore seem more masculine than desired. While most of the causes of snoring apply to both genders, there may be specific conditions that lead to snoring in women. Some of the causes of snoring in women include pregnancy, hormones, menopause, genetics, lifestyle habits, and possibly medical conditions.
There are three theories as to why some women snore more often during pregnancy: weight gain, sleep position changes, and hormone changes. Weight gain leads to snoring in women if excess fat accumulates in the neck area. This narrows the body’s airways, making it more likely that the uvula and soft palate will vibrate with each breath.
Pregnant women also tend to sleep in different positions due to their growing abdomen. In some cases, this leads to angles where the airways are squeezed, causing the woman to snore. In these scenarios, it is often enough to tilt the snorer’s head or lower the head position to get snoring relief.
Hormones could also be responsible for snoring in women. The exact mechanisms have not been determined by research. Some women, however, have reported that hormone therapy has drastically reduced their snoring habits.
Menopause is also believed to cause snoring in women. In addition to weight gain and hormonal changes, menopause comes at an age when the muscles in the body are more relaxed. This includes the uvula and the muscles that support the soft palate.
Genetics could also play a role in snoring. One of the reasons snoring in men occurs more than in women is because men tend to have narrower airways. It is highly possible that some women simply inherit this quality from their parents and end up snoring more than the average woman.
Certain lifestyle habits can lead to snoring in women as well as men. Drinking alcohol relaxes the muscles around the throat, so heavy drinkers are more prone to snoring. The same goes for cigarette smoking and some drugs and medications. Many people find that avoiding these substances for a few hours before bed greatly reduces the chances of snoring.
Finally, snoring could be a symptom or effect of some pre-existing medical condition. A cleft palate, for example, can alter the flow of air inside the mouth and throat and lead to snoring. If so, it is actually possible to get corrective surgery that will reduce or eliminate the snoring.
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