Snoring occurs when air does not flow smoothly through the air passages, or when the soft tissues or muscles in your air passages vibrate. This muscle relaxation causes your throat tissues to sag. As you breathe, the sagging tissues narrow your airway and vibrate or flutter, creating the sound of snoring. Snoring affects 45 per cent of the population from time to time and an estimated 25 per cent of people are habitual snorers. There are a number of reasons why you may snore.
Age can be a factor.
The older you get, the weaker your throat muscles become. Weak throat muscles cause the surrounding tissues to sag and vibrate. If you are overweight, your throat tissues are less firm and more inclined to vibrate when you breathe. This forces you to breathe through your mouth where more flabby tissue is located. When you sleep on your back, your tongue falls backwards into your throat which can narrow your airway and partly block airflow.