snoring

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You snore when some parts of your throat vibrate. This only happens when you're asleep. The part of your throat that vibrates is called the pharynx. It is right behind the tongue. Several small muscles hold it open. But when you sleep, these muscles relax. This makes it vibrate more easily. It also becomes narrower. When you breathe in, it will vibrate and make a noise. The narrower it is, the more easily it will vibrate and the louder you will snore. 

Your risk of snoring is increased by:

• Being overweight or obese will mean you have more fat around the neck. This will make your throat narrower and it will vibrate more easily.
•  Drinking alcohol will relax the muscles in your throat. This will mean more vibration and more sound.
•  People who breathe through the mouth are more likely to snore. This is because the walls of your throat at the back of the mouth vibrate easily. Walls at the back of your nose do not vibrate as easily.
•  A blocked nose will mean that you have to breathe through the mouth. This will raise your risk of snoring. It also makes a vacuum inside the throat. This may pull the walls of your throat closer together.
•  Sleeping on your back makes your tongue fall directly back. This can get in the way of your airflow. Snoring is almost always worse on the back.
•  Some people snore because of narrowing caused by nasal polyps, a large tongue or thyroid swellings. These narrow the airway. Often children snore because of large tonsils and adenoids.
•  Allergies, hay fever and smoking can make snoring worse. This is because they make it harder for air to flow in and out.
•  Some medications make your throat muscles relax e.g. sleeping tablets, anaesthetic drugs, oral steroids and epilepsy drugs.
•  Some people are born with a smaller airway than normal. These people will have a higher chance of snoring.
•  Snoring is more likely in pregnancy. 

Problem snoring may be an early warning signal that sleep apnoea is present. Your GP can refer you to a sleep specialist who will probably want you to do a sleep study. Sleep apnoea is a serious health issue that needs attention. 

If you are overweight, losing weight might help. Try and avoid alcohol for at least four hours before sleeping. If your snoring is made worse by an allergy, try and stay away from whatever sets it off. 

For children who snore, it is common to take out the tonsils as tonsillar enlargement is a common cause. This often succeeds.