Is snoring just a bad habit? When can it become dangerous?

     Snoring may seem like a harmless, annoying habit, but in some cases it can be just the tip of the iceberg, concealing serious health problems, particularly when associated with episodes of sleep apnea, during which breathing and oxygen supply are interrupted during sleep.

Causes of snoring:
Snoring is caused by the vibration of the soft tissues of the pharynx as air passes through the upper airway, particularly the uvula, soft palate and tonsils. During the day, we do not snore because muscle tone keeps these structures stable. During sleep, however, relaxation of the pharyngeal muscles causes these tissues, especially the uvula, to vibrate.
The main anatomical obstructions that can narrow the upper airway and consequently cause snoring include:

• Deviated nasal septum and hypertrophic nasal turbinates
• Enlarged adenoids (commonly known as adenoid vegetations) in the nasopharynx
• Enlarged tonsils
• An enlarged or elongated uvula
• Narrow palatal arches of the soft palate