Snoring can be caused by a number of factors:
-stenosis of the breathing system, and particularly of the nose, caused by polyps or by mucous tumefactions (mainly in case of babies);
-an occlusion of the back gag caused by the palatine velum and the uvula.
-vibrations during the relaxation of the muscles of the pharynx during the airflow.
Snoring is mainly caused by the tongue’s displacement: it tends to slip backwards, thus partially blocking the airways. The narrowing of the space aimed to the airflow in the throat can have a number of causes, which can be often combined with each other.
Main clinical causes for snoring:
1. Age: the progressive relaxation of the tissues leads to a higher rate of snoring cases
2. Overweight: fat gathering around the primary airways makes the space for the airflow even narrower.
3. Specific anatomic conditions: your airways can be limited by a thick soft palate, a big tongue, a small jaw, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, a deviated nasal septum or a nasal polyp.
4. Uvula's morphology: the triangular-shaped skin that hangs from your soft palate can limit the airflow and increase vibrations.
5. A nasal breathing difficulty: the airflow through your nose can be limited by allergies and/or a deviated nasal septum.
6. Alcohol and certain drugs (tranquillizers): they affect your nervous central system and cause the extreme relaxation of your muscles, including the ones of your throat.
7. Sleeping position: when you are sleeping on one's back, your tongue tends to fall backwards and blocks the airways limiting the airflow.
Keep on reading
