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 ca