Snoring is a noise created by the partial blocking of the airway.

When you fall asleep your muscles relax, including those that control the tongue and throat. The soft tissue at the back of your throat can sag, narrowing the airway. Incoming air then makes the tissue at the rear roof of the mouth (the soft palate), the flap of skin hanging from the palate (uvula) and the throat vibrate – a sound we know as snoring.

Certain medications and alcohol make the muscles and soft tissues relax more, so it is common for people to tell me…

The problem with this is that if you snore after drinking, then you probably also snore (if quietly) every night.

 

There is  a common stereotype that those who snore are overweight men in middle age or older.

That is a dangerous misconception, and the fact is that anybody can snore.  It is not at all unusual for us to see fit, slim young women who snore or even have moderate sleep apnea.

It is important to have snoring properly diagnosed and treated if you suspect that you or someone you know snores.  There are various health issues associated with snoring, apart from insufficient sleep or disrupted sleep.

Some of the more severe problems are reported here – Snoring Health problems

 

Snoring is often no greater problem than the noise itself. However, loud or persistent snoring may be a sign of a more serious problem – Obstructive Sleep Apnea