Snoring

What is it?

Snoring occurs when the upper airway partially narrows during sleep, causing soft tissue vibration. It is extremely common, affecting up to 40% of adult men and 24% of women. Simple snoring is benign, but habitual loud snoring — especially with pauses in breathing, choking, or gasping — is a key symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA carries serious cardiovascular and metabolic risks and is significantly underdiagnosed. A bed partner's report of breathing pauses is the most important historical clue.

Common causes

When to see a doctor

• 1Snoring with witnessed pauses in breathing (apneas) reported by a partner
• 2Excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate sleep time
• 3Snoring with morning headaches, memory problems, or difficulty concentrating
• 4Loud snoring in a child — may indicate adenotonsillar hypertrophy or pediatric OSA
• 5Snoring causing significant relationship disruption — positional or device therapy warranted

What you can do

• ✓Sleep on your side rather than your back — gravity worsens airway collapse when supine
• ✓Avoid alcohol within 3 hours of bedtime — it relaxes throat muscles and worsens snoring
• ✓Lose weight if overweight — even modest weight loss reduces snoring severity
• ✓Treat nasal congestion with saline irrigation or nasal corticosteroids
• ✓Elevate the head of the bed by 4 inches to reduce snoring from positional causes

Conditions that cause this symptom

Medications that may help

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Always consult your provider before starting any medication.

Frequently asked questions