Did you know that factors such as alcohol consumption, the anatomy of your mouth and sinuses and allergies can contribute to snoring?

When you doze off and progress from a light to deep sleep, the tongue, throat and the muscles in the roof of the mouth (called the soft palate) relax. If these muscles relax too much, they begin to partially block the airway, causing them to vibrate. The more narrowed the airway, the more forceful the airflow becomes, which increases tissue vibration and results in louder snoring.

Five possible reasons you could be snoring include:

• The anatomy of the mouth
  Having a low, thick, soft palate can often narrow your airway. People who are overweight and obese normally have extra tissues at the back of their throats, which may narrow their airways. Also, if the uvula is elongated, the airflow may be obstructed, and the vibration may also increase. The uvula is the triangular piece of tissue that is hanging from the roof of the mouth (soft palate).
• Alcohol consumption
  Consuming too much alcohol before bedtime can lead to you snoring because alcohol relaxes the throat muscles and decreases the natural defences against airway obstruction.
• Nasal problems
  Crooked partition between the nostrils or chronic nasal congestion may be contributing to your snoring.
• Sleep position
  Snoring is normally frequent and loudest when you are sleeping on your back, leading to the gravity’s effect on the throat to narrow the airway.
• Sleep deprivation
  Not getting enough sleep may contribute to the relaxation of the throat muscles, resulting in snoring.