Snoring is just one of a number of disorders which are collectively known as ‘Sleep Disordered Breathing’ or ‘SDB’.

Snoring can be diagnosed as ‘primary’ or ‘obstructive’. Primary snoring is characterized by loud vibrating sounds from the upper airway during sleep, without any cessation of breathing. Obstructive snoring (known as ‘Obstructive Sleep Apnoea’ or ‘OSA’) is a serious medical condition where the snorer stops breathing for periods of up to two minutes.

Snoring occurs when air does not flow freely through the air passages at the back of the mouth and nose. It can occur while inhaling and/or exhaling.

As you fall into a deep sleep, the muscles in your tongue, throat and roof of your mouth (the soft palate) relax. The tongue, soft palate and uvula (the droopy flap of tissue that hangs from the back of your soft palate) are non-rigid and so this muscle relaxation causes the tissues to sag and collapse against each other. As you breathe, the sagging tissues narrow your airway and vibrate or flutter, creating the sound of snoring. The narrower your airway becomes, the greater the vibration...and the louder your snoring.

When muscles are too relaxed, either during periods of deep sleep or as a result of the consumption of alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness, the tongue falls backwards into the airway or the throat muscles draw in from the sides into the airway.

Another common cause is excessively bulky throat tissue. Chronic snorers are often overweight, which reflects the fact that the build up of fatty tissue in the mouth and throat has restricted the airway. That said, a person does not need to be overweight to have bulky neck and throat tissues. Children with large tonsils and adenoids often snore – and occasionally cysts or tumours can cause bulk.

Some people have a long soft palate and/or uvula. The extended length of the palate reduces the opening from the nose into the throat and can cause a fluttering effect during even relaxed breathing. When the uvula is long or swollen, the result is worsened.

Obstructed nasal airways caused by deformities of the nose or nasal septum (the middle of the inside of the nose) can obstruct the airflow and cause snoring because extra effort is required to inhale through it. This can lead to the creation of a vacuum effect in the throat, and this can lead to the floppy tissues of the throat being pulled together and causing snoring.

Any ailment that causes a stuffy or blocked nose or makes the airways constrict, such as a cold or asthma, can lead to snoring. Because of this, snoring may occur only periodically when the snorer is suffering from asthma attacks, hay-fever type allergic reactions, or a cold or sinus infection.

Sometimes the actual sleep conditions or sleeping position can play a part. An overly soft or large pillow will tend to encourage snoring, as will sleeping on one's back.

Smoking, which irritates the passageways, can also make snoring worse.

Whatever the cause, the good news is that an effective, painless and inexpensive treatment is now available.