The noises of snoring are generated within the breathing passages. The sounds are caused by the vibration or flapping of the tissues lining the air passages.
Noises can result from a narrowing of the nasal passage which generates a whistling noise.
This may, in turn, have been caused by narrowness of the nasal passage causing turbulent or irregular air flow which contributes to the fluttering of the soft palate. The tongue may fall back into the airway narrowing the airway and at times causing blockage. This may also contribute to the snoring noise. It is most important to stress that snoring, in most patients, is due to multiple factors, each playing some part in the snoring process. Factors which are important in this regard include narrowing or blockage of the upper airway passages through anatomical or injury reasons as well as factors contributing to congestion of the soft tissues of the airways, e.g. smoking, alcohol, acid reflux from the stomach affecting the throat tissues, obesity, ageing and hormonal factors.