A little anatomy is needed to understand opening the airway.

The tongue is a muscular organ with the primary functions of (1) mechanical processing, (2) manipulation to assist in chewing and swallowing, and (3) sensory analysis. This organ attaches to the mandible (the lower jaw bone), and that is where the potential for problems lies. The mandible is movable, thus in a stuporous or comatose patient the jaw relaxes allowing the tongue to fall back against the posterior wall of the pharynx (throat) and block the airway. A person whose airway is partially obstructed will have snoring respiration, which sounds the same as when your spouse snores at night.

A person whose airway is completely blocked will have no respirations at all a very deadly situation. Fortunately, obstruction of the airway by the tongue, which by the way, is the most common cause of airway obstruction, is a very simple problem to fix by using one of several maneuvers that elevate the base of the tongue away from the back of the throat. The simplest method is called the head tilt. To do this maneuver is so simple that it is a mystery why people die from airway obstruction when often dozens of people are standing nearby. This is how to do the head tilt: place one hand on the victims forehead and apply firm pressure backward with the palm. This alone brings the mandible forward and opens the airway. The better maneuver is the head tilt-chin lift. To do this, do the aforementioned head tilt by placing the hand on the forehead and apply pressure. Then, take the fingers of the other hand and place them under the bony part of the victims chin and lift plus pull forward on the chin. This maneuver supports the jaw as well helps tilt the head.

Causes of snoring Snoring is caused by the vibration of the soft tissue in your head and neck as you breathe in.

Obstructed nasal airways: Some people snore only during allergy seasons or when they have a sinus infection. Deformities of the nose such as a deviated septum (a structural change in the wall that separates one nostril from the other) or nasal polyps can also cause obstruction. Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue: Throat and tongue muscles can be too relaxed, which allows them to collapse and fall back into the airway. This can result from deep sleep, alcohol consumption, and use of some sleeping pills. Normal aging causes further relaxation of these muscles. Bulky throat tissue: Being overweight can cause bulky throat tissue. Also, children with large tonsils and adenoids often snore. Long soft palate and/or uvula: A long soft palate or a long uvula (the dangling tissue in back of the mouth) can narrow the opening from the nose to the throat. When these structures vibrate and bump against one another the airway becomes obstructed, causing snoring.

Increased risk Some things that can increase your risk of habitual snoring include:

obesity - particularly if you have a large amount of fat around your neck. People with a neck circumference of more than 43cm (17 inches) usually snore a lot. drinking alcohol - alcohol relaxes your muscles when you sleep, which increases the narrowing of your airways sedatives and some types of antidepressants - in some people, these medications can have a similar effect on the muscles as alcohol smoking - tobacco smoke can cause your airways to become inflamed, which increases the narrowing of the airways allergic rhinitis - a condition where the inside of your nose becomes swollen and inflamed due to an allergic reaction to substances such as dust or pollen