Home > Snoring Surgery > Causes > Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Snoring is defined as noisy breathing caused by vibration of the airway walls at the back of the throat during sleep. A common condition in the general population, with increasing incidence with age.
Snoring is due to obstruction at one or more of the following levels:
- Nasal airway eg deviated nasal septum causing obstruction
- Tonsils – especially if enlarged
- Soft palate &ndash if overly long or floppy
- Tongue base – if large or displaced toward the back of the throat
- Muscles of the throat – if hypotonic or floppy – eg after alcohol
- Bulky neck/throat – eg if overweight
