Snoring is rough, noisy breathing that occurs during sleep. Snoring is common among people over the age of 40. Although mild snoring is considered harmless and only an annoyance to others, severe snoring may be associated with significant and even life-threatening medical problems.
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The sound of snoring is produced by the vibration of relaxed structures of the mouth and throat. As a sleeping person inhales, the muscles of the throat may remain relaxed, causing the airway to narrow. When the airway narrows, such structures as the soft palate and the uvula (the stalk of flesh hanging from the soft palate) may vibrate and produce the sound of snoring.
People who have narrow upper airways, lengthened palates or uvulas, enlarged tonsils, weak throat muscles, or difficulty breathing through their noses are most likely to snore. Snoring often occurs when the person sleeps on the back. Substances that relax muscles during sleep, such as alcohol, sleeping pills, antihistamines, or tranquilizers, make the problem worse.
During severe snoring, less air goes into and out of the lungs, which results in decreased oxygen and increased carbon dioxide in the blood. This change in blood gas levels may cause high blood pressure or heart problems such as abnormal heart rhythms. Severe snoring may be associated with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which the air passage is repeatedly blocked during sleep (see Sleep apnea).
Mild snoring often may be prevented by changing the sleeping position. Severe snoring may be treated with drugs, surgery, or with a mask that supplies air under pressure to expand the airway during sleep.
