SECTION 1 : THE CAUSES OF SNORING
So … Just What the Heck is Snoring , Anyway ?
Technically , snoring is defined as any resonant noise from the respiratory tract that emerges during sleep . Biologically , snoring refers to a vibration in the airway connecting the nose and the mouth ; a vibration that can emerge through the mouth , the nose , or ( as some non-snorers are painfully aware ), it can emerge through both !
Snoring is not a disease , rather a symptom of various clinical and pathological conditions , some minor , others more significant . When we breathe in , air enters through the nose and into the oropharynx , where it passes through a region of Iymphoid tissue in a ring around the back of the nose and throat .
During the day the oropharyngeal muscles work to hold open the airway , which allows air to travel through it easily , but during sleep our muscle tone is relaxed . The airway becomes narrower or partially obstructed , when breathing in , and the walls of the oropharynx ( throat ) begin to vibrate and produce the sound we know as snoring . The tissues of the oropharynx bring about the actual noise of snoring and in particular those of the soft palate ( roof of the mouth ) and the base of the tongue set into intermittent vibration . In fact , the tongue plays a far more important role in the incidence of snoring than was once thought .
Moderate or severe snoring can be associated with increased respiratory effort and hypertension .
As the throat ( and its subsequent tissue ) relaxes during sleep , the wind tunnel / airway becomes narrower and hence , snoring occurs . As you can sense , the more narrow the airway , generally speaking , the more intense the vibration ; and ultimately , the louder the snore .
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