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Where does snoring come from?
Snoring is caused by vibration of the pharyngeal soft tissues, secondary to a narrowing of the airway. During sleep, the soft palate, uvula and tongue relax. As air passes through, it vibrates these tissues, causing snoring. If these various organs are too large in relation to the bone structure, they can lead to airway obstruction.
2 types of factors promote snoring and apnea:
Local factors
All anatomical elements likely to reduce the passage of air during sleep are therefore conducive to snoring and apnea:
- A blocked nose
- Long, flaccid veil and large uvula
- Large tonsils
- Mandible too far back (retrognathia)
- The big tongue
- Certain laryngeal anomalies
General factors
- overweight
- hormonal abnormalities, particularly thyroid abnormalities
- alcohol consumption
