As you sleep, you breathe in through your nose or mouth. This air passes along the roof of the mouth (the soft palate) to the back of the mouth (the pharynx), where the tongue and upper throat meet. This area can collapse during sleep, narrowing the passageway or even blocking it completely – a serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnea. When the passage narrows, the soft palate and the small bit of flesh in the back of your throat known as the uvula vibrate. This vibration presents as snoring. Other structures in the back of the throat, such as the tonsils and the adenoids, can also vibrate. The smaller the airway becomes, the louder the snoring.

A number of factors can contribute to snoring or make you more susceptible, including:

• Your throat’s muscle tone – If muscle tone is lax, it’s easier for the tissues to collapse. Low muscle tone can be attributed to a lack of fitness or the aging process.

• Your nasal passages – If your nasal passages are blocked, as may occur when you have a cold, it becomes more difficult to inhale. The extra effort can cause the airway to narrow. Chronic causes of narrow nasal passages include allergies and nasal polyps.

• Tissues in the mouth, nose, and throat – When tissues become enlarged, snoring occurs. Snoring in children is often attributed to enlarged tonsils.

• Your nasal anatomy – If you have a deviated septum, this can disturb the airflow through the nose

• Your weight – Being overweight or obese can cause fat in the throat to narrow the airway.

• Alcohol – Alcohol is a depressant, and it affects the part of your brain that regulates your breathing. If your tongue and throat muscles become overly relaxed, they may partially block air movement.

• Medications – Many medications, particularly those that treat allergies, depression, and anxiety, can relax you or make you drowsy.