Snoring Symptoms
Symptom Checker: Symptoms & Signs Index
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Snoring is a sound resulting from turbulent airflow that
causes the tissues of the nose and throat to vibrate during sleep. The turbulent
air flow is related to a narrowing at some point in the nose, mouth, or throat. Different
people who snore may have various reasons for the narrowing of the air spaces
leading to snoring.
Any person can snore, and studies estimate that 45% of men and 30% of women
snore on a regular basis. People who snore can have any body type, although as a
rule, snoring increases when people
gain weight. Sleeping position may also
affect snoring. Since the tissues of the pharynx are normally soft and floppy,
when we lie on our backs, gravity pulls the palate, tonsils, and tongue backward. This
often narrows the airway enough to cause turbulence in airflow, tissue
vibration, and snoring.
Anatomical variation, the use of medications and
alcohol, and underlying medical conditions are all among the various causes of
snoring. The normal aging
process also leads to relaxation of the throat muscles and can facilitate
snoring.
REFERENCE:
Fauci, Anthony S., et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2008.
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Other Causes of Snoring
