ANATOMIC CAUSES OF SNORING

Snoring is commonly associated with abnormalities of the soft palate or uvula. An overly long or floppy soft palate may vibrate irregularly with airflow. This abnormal vibration makes a sound – snoring. Other sources may also contribute to snoring and, for this reason, careful and complete evaluation is imperative in order to direct effective treatment. Nasal sources (deviated septum, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, polyps, chronic and allergic nasal congestion), nasopharyngeal sources (enlarged adenoids and nasopharyngeal growths) oral sources (enlarged tongue base, small jaw, enlarged uvula or tonsils), and throat and neck sources (floppy neck soft tissues) may all contribute to snoring and to sleep apnea. In some cases, snoring may be increased by alcohol consumption late at night (which causes your throat to relax and become more floppy).