Snoring can be caused by a number of environmental and health conditions.

Among the most common causes of snoring are:

• drinking alcohol
• smoking
• being overweight.

The noise of snoring occurs when the tissues at the back of the soft palate vibrate.

This vibration can be caused by a softening of these tissues, an excess of tissue, or narrowing of the nasopharynx (the air passage leading from the nasal cavity to the throat).

Being overweight can obstruct the nasopharynx, as can sleeping on your back.

That's one reason why partners of snorers are often advised to roll their snoring mate onto his or her side.

Drinking alcohol and smoking relax the tissues of the throat and palate, causing them to sag and not only partially block the airway but also vibrate with heavy breathing.

If other physical and environmental conditions have been ruled out, eliminating these common causes of snoring can go a long way toward quieter nights for you and your partner.