Why do people snore?

When we fall asleep, the muscles of the tongue, throat and soft palate relax, narrowing the airway. As air is forced through this tighter space, the floppy tissues vibrate and produce the familiar rattling sound. Factors that narrow the airway further make snoring more likely, including sleeping on the back, nasal congestion, alcohol, excess weight around the neck and enlarged tonsils. Roughly 40 percent of adult men and 24 percent of adult women snore habitually, and it becomes more common with age. Loud snoring with pauses in breathing can signal obstructive sleep apnoea, a condition that deserves medical attention.