Why Do I Snore?

As you begin to drift off to sleep, your muscles relax, including the muscles in your upper throat. If airflow through your upper airway becomes turbulent, the soft tissue in your throat vibrates, which causes a loud rumbling sound. This is snoring.

You might snore because of a deviated nasal septum, enlarged tonsils or a narrow airway. Maybe you’re overly exhausted or had a couple glasses of wine before bed. Sometimes the way to stop snoring is as easy as lying on your side. But for some of us, snoring occurs in all sleep positions and when the mouth is open as well as closed.

Snoring can also be a sign of a serious health condition called sleep apnea. If you stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer on an average of five times per hour of sleep, you could have obstructive sleep apnea. This condition cannot be diagnosed simply by watching you sleep. If you snore and have other symptoms including excessive tiredness, chronic fatigue or daytime exhaustion, consult a sleep physician.