When asleep, the mouth, nose and throat muscles relax making them more likely to vibrate when breating. Snoring is actually the palate of the mouth and other surrounding tissue of the nose and throat vibrating because air isn't flowing properly through the air passages.
Factors that disrupt airflow through the passages include:
Being overweight – fat deposits around the neck and throat can lead to the surrounding tissue sagging and preventing air from flowing smoothly. Men are more prone to this problem as they store more fat around the neck.
Alcohol – drinking alcohol relaxes the muscles so tissue in the mouth, throat and nose is more likely to disrupt air flow.
Sleeping on your back – by laying on your back while asleep, the tongue falls back toward the throat narrowing the airway and preventing smooth airflow.
Age – throat muscles weaken with age making them more susceptible to vibration while asleep.
Colds and allergies – a blocked nasal passage from a cold or allergic reaction makes breathing difficult through the nose encouraging the mouth to take in air instead. The mouth contains more tissue that easily vibrates resulting in snoring.
Smoking – smoking can irritate the airways causing inflammation and blocking airflow.
Other factors which can cause snoring include:
- having a thick soft palate
- having a palate that is low-set
- enlarged tonsils
- a broken or misshapen nose
- a long uvula (skin that hangs between the tonsils)
