Snoring can disrupt both your sleep and that of your partner. It may also be a sign of serious sleep disordered breathing, like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). According to Johns Hopkins research, OSA increases the risk of death by heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes by up to 46 percent.

The loud rumbling and rasping snoring causes of snoring are caused by vibration of the upper airway muscles and tissue, usually from the soft palate or uvula. The vibration is a result of relaxation of the tissues in the throat during sleep. As these tissues relax, they narrow the airway making fluttering and vibrating more likely — much like a cloth flag would flutter in a breeze.

Snoring Causes: Understanding Why You Snore

Men are more prone to snore than women and the habit usually gets worse with age. This is because the throat muscle tone and the structure of the nasal and throat structures change with age, especially after middle age. The narrowing of the throat can be caused by obesity, smoking, drinking alcohol or taking certain medications that reduce airway muscle tone.

Changing sleeping habits, refraining from alcohol or smoking, avoiding cold and allergy medicines that can cause constriction of the airways, maintaining a healthy weight and mouth or throat exercises can all help to decrease snoring. But in some cases, more involved treatment is needed, such as a CPAP machine or surgery. Your doctor will discuss the pros and cons of these treatments in your specific case.