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Snoring Diagnosis: Factors Your Doctor Will Examine

There are some basic characteristics that your doctor will look at that can be factors in diagnosing your snoring:

Gender: Although scientists are not sure why, men are more likely to snore than women. Of those who snore, 50 percent are men, and 30 percent are women, and after menopause, these percentages even out. Men also snore louder than women, which may be a sign of sleep apnea.

Age: Snoring tends to be a condition that is more common in adults over 40 years of age. Body weight often increases with age, and an associated loss of muscle tone in the soft neck tissue results in a constriction in the throat and neck air passageways.

Weight: What you eat and how much you eat have an effect on your weight and the quality of your sleep. Typically, people who are obese have the most problems with respiratory symptoms during sleep. Chin folds and a very large neck are physical characteristics that are linked to snoring. Fatty tissue in the throat vibrates as a person sleeps, contributing to the snoring sound. Excess weight at any age leads to extra throat tissue that may block airways.

Hypothyroidism: Thyroid deficiency, or hypothyroidism, causes excessive daytime sleepiness and snoring that is similar to sleep apnea. If you snore, you may want to ask your doctor for a thyroid function test to rule out hypothyroidism.

Drugs & Medication: Several medications have side effects that can cause snoring. Read more for examples.

Environmental Factors: Numerous environmental factors may cause snoring, and worsen your symptoms. Read more about the environmental factors.

Even though there are many causes, there are also many changes you can try on your own to solve your snoring, and a doctor can guide you along the way. Read more about how snoring is treated.