snoring

snoring, a rough, hoarse noise produced upon the intake of breath during sleep and caused by the vibration of the soft palate and vocal cords. It is often associated with obstruction of the nasal passages, which necessitates breathing through the mouth. Snoring is more common in the elderly because the loss of tone in the oropharyngeal musculature promotes vibration of the soft palate and pharynx. It is also more common in men than in women, and it occurs most often in obese persons. Children’s snoring usually results from enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Whatever the cause, snoring is always associated with mouth breathing and can be corrected by removing obstructions to normal nasal breathing or by altering sleeping position so that the affected individual does not lie on his back. Loud interrupted snoring is a regular feature of sleep apnea, a common and potentially life-threatening condition that generally requires treatment.