How to Describe Snoring Sounds?

by | | Sleep Disorders

How to Describe Snoring Sounds?

Describing sounds can challenge our vocabulary skills. Snoring is most commonly referred to as just snoring and “Z”s but describing it properly is rarely done so let me share you these interesting ways on how to do it.

So, how to describe snoring sounds? Check these 7 terms or phrases used to describe snoring sounds.

  1. Cutting gourds
    • Gourds are plants that bear fruits and the cutting sound of it may be similar to other snoring sounds.
  2. Sawing wood
    • The most commonly used phrase to describe snoring sounds. It’s completely accurate, isn’t it!?
  3. Calling hogs
    • When herding animals in farms, hogs produce grunting sounds similar to snoring.
  4. Grinding gravel
    • Similar to sawing woods, grinding gravel is an accurate description for snoring sounds. Just try and listen for yourself!
  5. Cracking corn
    • Cracking or crushing the corn into tiny pieces produces loud and crunchy noises similar to snoring sounds.
  6. Rattle the Shingles
    • Used to describe the loud, clanging sounds when rattling the “shingles” or objects at a building. When someone is loudly snoring continuously, they’re rattling the shingles!
  7. Cooking turnips
    • In Pennsylvania, cooking turnips is a phrase used to describe snoring sounds since it is a bit similar to the turbulence of root veggies bouncing around in boiling water!

There are multiple ways to describe snoring sounds and it may be different depending on the place and severity of the snore as well. Let’s also mention 15 words used to describe snoring sounds.

  1. Wheeze
  2. Grumble
  3. Pant
  4. Gargle
  5. Sigh
  6. Snort
  7. Snuffle
  8. Heavy
  9. Stuttering
  10. Sonorous
  11. Gasping
  12. Drawn-out
  13. Shallow
  14. Droning
  15. Nasal

As our world continues to improvise, who knows if there will be other ways to describe snoring sounds in the future? We usually describe snoring sounds as “Zzz”s but we actually have more!

After learning how to describe the snoring sounds, aren’t you interested to learn about what is the reason behind those snoring sounds? Well, as you read on, you’ll definitely learn more about snoring and what it does.

What causes snoring sounds?

To help silence the sound of snoring, it’s important to know what may cause it in the first place.

There are plenty of reasons why a person may snore but mainly, it’s when the person is experiencing difficulty in breathing.

When the body is unable to breathe properly, the surrounding tissues may vibrate which causes the sound called snoring.

This can happen because of chronic conditions or natural anatomy formation. It can be because of a narrow throat or such which can be fixed through surgeries.

If not, there are also other reasons why a person will snore. Check out this list to see if it may be applicable to your situation.

  1. Being overweight
    • Body fat can get in the way of the body’s ability to stretch its airways open making it harder to breathe which will cause snoring.
  2. Airway obstruction
    • Anything that can obstruct the airways will make breathing difficult and cause the tissues to vibrate and cause snoring.
  3. Sleeping position
    • Sleeping on your back may cause the tongue to fall back and the muscles to relax which can block the airways.
  4. Drinking liquor
    • Drinking excessive liquor especially before going to sleep will relax the muscles and create difficulty in breathing
  5. Smoking cigarettes
    • Similar to drinking liquor
  6. Taking medications
    • Certain medications can make the body relax as well
  7. Sleeping exhausted
    • Sometimes, going to bed overworked or completely exhausted can cause snoring since the body is too tired to help your breathing stay normal.
  8. Anatomical build
    • Your physical attributes can obstruct your airways and some of this can be hereditary.
  9. Age
    • As we age, our throat will become narrower which is beyond our control. However, proper sleep routine and a healthy, balanced diet can prevent snoring or sleep apnea.

Snoring can be caused by different things and some of these cannot be prevented but it’s important that you learn about these factors or conditions to help you understand why you snore or someone is snoring.

How to silence snoring sounds?

Today, there are now plenty ways that can help stop the snoring especially if it’s caused by simple conditions.

  1. Nasal Strips
    • Nasal strips are one of the earliest tools used to treat conditions like sleep apnea and its symptoms such as snoring. Nowadays, there are newly developed nasal strips that you can try.
  2. Oral Appliance
    • Oral pieces can help with sleep apnea and silence snoring, they are custom made to make sure it prevents the obstruction in the airways and counter sleep apnea and snoring.
  3. CPAP Treatment
    • The CPAP or “Continuous Positive Airway Pressure” is a commonly used treatment and proven to be effective for sleep apnea patients and silencing the sound of snoring.
  4. Lose weight
    • Being overweight or obesity can be a cause of snoring. You can potentially get rid of snoring by getting plenty of exercises and maintaining a healthy, balanced diet.
  5. Stop or avoid smoking too much.
    • Excessive smoking can cause or worsen snoring. Reducing your smoke intake per day will also reduce the risk of snoring. If possible, quit smoking to potentially get rid of snoring.
  6. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
    • Drinking too much alcohol before sleeping can cause and worsen snoring just like smoking.
  7. Avoid sedatives before going to sleep
    • Certain sedatives can cause snoring. Consult a medical expert to determine what type of sedative may be the cause.
  8. Maintain a proper sleep routine.
    • Sometimes, we end up getting exposed to snoring since we simply don’t sleep at the right time. Try to avoid staying up late and sleep early.
    • Try to keep a proper sleeping position as well. Try to sleep with your head elevated or sleeping in a recliner chair.
  9. Don’t overwork yourself all the time.
    • Going to sleep exhausted can make us a lot more prone to snoring. It’s important to relax a little bit at first before going to bed to lessen the risk of sleep apnea and snoring.
  10. Treat chronic allergies
    • Some allergies can trigger obstruction in your body’s airways and may cause you to have sleep apnea and cause you to snore. Treat or avoid triggering your allergies to avoid snoring.

Some of these are just simple lifestyle changes and sleeping position changes. Silencing the sound of snoring can be different depending on what causes it in the first place.

How to stop snoring sounds caused by sleep apnea

If your snore is caused by sleep apnea and using the treatments listed above did not work, then the only option left is to treat sleep apnea directly and permanently rid of it. Here’s how you can do it.

  1. Rapid Maxillary Expansion
    • For children with obstructive sleep apnea. This process places an expandable brace on the roof of the mouth that increases the width of the upper jaw (maxilla).
    • Over time, parents can adjust the brace using a special key to increase the amount of pressure for the teeth.
  2. Jaw Advancement Surgery
    • For teenagers and adults. This process will surgically break the jaw bones, moved forward and then fixed properly with screws and plates and will change the person’s facial structure or profile.
    • It might take months to recover.
  3. Surgical Airway Advancement
    • Similar to the 2nd example. Bones of the upper and lower jaw will be repositioned in a way that will relieve airway obstruction.

It’s important to consult a health expert to determine the proper surgery suited for your condition. After all, sleep apnea can be a complicated condition and needs careful analysis before doing anything else.

What worsens snoring sounds?

There are a few factors or conditions that can worsen the sound of snoring and prevent you from curing it. Check out these factors to help you understand. Some cannot be avoided but some can be prevented.

  1. Hypothyroidism
    • The condition wherein your body does not produce enough thyroid hormones, which is needed to control how to use energy received from food through metabolism. Bad metabolism can affect heartbeat and breathing.
  2. Acromegaly
    • Opposite of hypothyroidism, acromegaly produces too much growth hormones which can affect your overall health including breathing.
  3. Obesity
    • Can make breathing difficult even while asleep or not moving, resulting in snoring
  4. Allergies
    • There are certain allergies that can worsen sleep apnea or snoring. Allergies that result with difficulty in breathing are the likes.
  5. Smoking cigarettes
    • Excessive smoking can damage your body which may make it harder to function or relax properly, increasing the risk of sleep apnea and snoring.
  6. Drinking liquor
    • Too much liquor and drinking before going to sleep can cause sleep apnea and snore.
  7. Drug usage
    • Sedations or other types of drugs especially when being abused can result in sleep apnea and snoring or worse.
    • Certain drugs, medications or such can worsen sickness
  8. Being male
    • Observations reveal that males tend to have sleep apnea and snore more than females
    • Though this factor cannot be avoided, knowing about it will help you understand the reason why you are prone to sleep apnea and snoring because of it
  9. Being old
    • Observations also revealed that older adults are more prone to sleep apnea and snoring than younger ones due to more complicated health issues that may trigger snoring.

Related Questions

How to sleep with a snoring spouse?

  1. Suggest to cure the snoring
  2. Wear earbuds, listen to music
  3. Use an anti-snore medical device
  4. There are also anti-snore pillows
  5. Advise them to sleep early and properly
  6. Limit smoking and liquor before bed
  7. Sleep first before your partner does
  8. Make them sleep on their sides
  9. Consider using a white noise machine
  10. Avoid letting them overeat before sleeping

How do I know if I snore?

There are a few signs that can help you know if you are a snorer. Here are 9 signs that you might be a snorer.

  1. Excessive daytime sleepiness.
  2. Difficulty in concentrating.
  3. Gasping or choking at night.
  4. Waking up with a dry mouth.
  5. Waking up with a headache.
  6. Sudden weight gain or loss.
  7. Uncontrolled irritability.
  8. Experience pauses in breathing during sleep.
  9. Feeling tired even though you just woke up.

The best way you can confirm if you are snoring is by recording your own sleep or by scheduling a sleep study to formally observe your sleeping habits. This will also help you find the right treatment afterward.

Can you die from snoring?

Yes, you can die from snoring or rather, the cause behind the snore is what can be the cause of death. Snoring loudly every time you sleep is a major sign of sleep apnea, an illness that can kill people in their sleep.

Sleep apnea interrupts our breathing for a few seconds up to two minutes, that amount of time is already dangerous to our health.

This illness will attack for approximately 400 times every time we sleep at night. The continuous disruption in our breathing will eventually affect our heart and our brains.