People snore because when they sleep, the muscles in their throat, tongue, and the roof of the mouth (soft palate) relax, causing the airway to narrow and air to flow past the relaxed tissues. This airflow causes the tissues to vibrate, producing the sound of snoring. Factors that contribute to snoring include the anatomy of the mouth and sinuses (such as a low, thick soft palate or a long uvula), being overweight with extra throat tissue, alcohol consumption before bed, nasal congestion or a deviated nasal septum, sleep deprivation, and sleeping on the back which causes airway narrowing due to gravity. Snoring can also be a symptom of more serious conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, which involves repeated breathing lapses during sleep and can affect health significantly. In summary, snoring results from restricted airflow in the airway during sleep, leading to tissue vibration and sound production.
