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Where does snoring come from?
Snoring is caused by the vibration of the soft tissues in the pharynx, resulting from a narrowing of the airway. During sleep, the soft palate, uvula, and tongue relax. As air passes through, it causes these tissues to vibrate, producing snoring. If these tissues are too large relative to the bone structure, they can obstruct the airways.
Two types of factors contribute to snoring and sleep apnea:
Local factors
All anatomical elements that can reduce airflow during sleep will therefore promote snoring and sleep apnea:
- A blocked nose
- A long, flabby veil and a large uvula
- The large tonsils
- The lower jaw is too far back (retrognathia)
- The big tongue
- Certain abnormalities of the larynx
General factors
- being overweight
- hormonal abnormalities, particularly thyroid abnormalities
- alcohol consumption
