Snoring: Contributing Factors, Warning Signs, and Treatment Options

Snoring occurs when airflow causes tissues in the upper airway to vibrate during sleep. It is common and is not always a sign of a serious condition. However, loud or frequent snoring can sometimes indicate obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly decreases or stops during sleep.

The most appropriate way to address snoring depends on its cause. A strategy that helps someone with temporary nasal congestion may not help someone whose snoring is related to sleep apnea or the structure of the airway.

Editor’s note: This article provides general educational information and is not medical advice. Persistent or disruptive snoring should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.

When Snoring May Require Medical Attention

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but snoring is one of its common warning signs. Consider speaking with a healthcare professional when snoring occurs with:

• Breathing pauses observed by another person
• Gasping, choking, or snorting during sleep
• Frequent awakenings
• Morning headaches or dry mouth
• Difficulty concentrating
• Waking without feeling rested
• Significant daytime sleepiness
• Drowsiness while driving or performing other safety-sensitive activities

A healthcare professional may recommend a sleep study when symptoms suggest sleep apnea. Review sleep apnea symptoms from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Factors That Can Contribute to Snoring

Body Weight

Body weight can affect the amount of tissue surrounding the upper airway, making snoring or obstructive sleep apnea more likely for some people. However, people of any body size can snore, and weight is only one possible factor.

When weight contributes to diagnosed sleep apnea or another health concern, a healthcare professional may recommend an individualized weight-management plan. Weight loss should not be presented as a guaranteed cure for snoring.

Alcohol and Sedating Products

Alcohol can relax muscles in the mouth and throat, which may narrow the upper airway during sleep. Sedatives and certain medications may have similar effects.

Limiting alcohol near bedtime may help some people, but anyone concerned about the effects of a prescription medication should consult the prescribing healthcare professional rather than stopping it independently.

Smoking

Smoking can irritate and inflame the upper airway and is associated with a higher risk of sleep apnea. Quitting smoking offers broad health benefits and may reduce an airway-related risk factor, but it is not a guaranteed standalone treatment for snoring.

Nasal Congestion and Airway Anatomy

Colds, allergies, nasal congestion, a deviated septum, nasal polyps, enlarged tonsils, and other anatomical differences may restrict airflow and contribute to snoring.

Treatment depends on the cause. A healthcare professional may recommend allergy management, congestion treatment, or an examination by an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Surgery is only one possible option and is not routinely appropriate for everyone who snores.

Sleep Position

Some people snore more when sleeping on their backs because the tongue and surrounding tissues may move toward the back of the throat. Side sleeping may help keep the airway more open for certain people.

Changing position may reduce uncomplicated snoring, but it should not be treated as a substitute for medical care when sleep apnea is suspected. There is no universal elevation angle that has been proven appropriate for every person.

Sleep Schedule

An inconsistent schedule or insufficient sleep may leave someone feeling more tired, but following a fixed eight-hour rule does not directly treat the source of snoring. Sleep needs vary by age and individual circumstances.

A consistent schedule and sufficient sleep can support general wellbeing, but persistent snoring still warrants evaluation when warning signs are present.

Options for Addressing Snoring

Begin With an Evaluation

The first step is distinguishing primary snoring from obstructive sleep apnea or another airway condition. This distinction matters because remedies marketed for ordinary snoring may not treat sleep apnea.

A sleep partner’s observations can be useful. Record whether the snoring is frequent, whether breathing appears to stop, and whether gasping or choking occurs. A healthcare professional may also ask about daytime sleepiness, medications, alcohol use, and nasal symptoms.

Address Relevant Lifestyle Factors

Depending on individual circumstances, a healthcare professional may recommend:

• Limiting alcohol near bedtime
• Quitting smoking
• Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule
• Trying a side-sleeping position
• Following an individualized weight-management plan when appropriate
• Treating allergies or congestion under professional guidance

These steps may help some people, but results vary and they do not replace treatment for diagnosed sleep apnea.

Oral Appliances

Custom oral appliances can reposition the jaw or tongue to help maintain an open airway. They may be appropriate for certain adults with primary snoring or obstructive sleep apnea.

Diagnosis should come from a qualified sleep professional, and a custom appliance should be fitted and monitored by a qualified dentist. Over-the-counter anti-snoring devices are not equivalent to professionally prescribed treatment. Read the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s oral-appliance guidance.

Positive Airway Pressure

Positive airway pressure, including CPAP, is a common treatment for diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea. It uses pressurized air to help keep the airway open during sleep. The appropriate device and settings should be determined by a healthcare professional.

Surgery and Other Procedures

Surgery may be considered when a specific anatomical problem contributes to airway obstruction or when other treatments have not worked. Possible procedures vary considerably, and each carries its own benefits and risks.

Surgery is not the standard response to every case of snoring. It requires an individualized assessment by an appropriate specialist.

Focus on the Cause, Not a Quick Fix

Snoring has many possible contributors, and no single remedy works for everyone. Side sleeping or reducing alcohol near bedtime may help uncomplicated snoring, while sleep apnea may require treatment such as positive airway pressure or a professionally fitted oral appliance.

Do not rely on a mattress, pillow, herbal product, nasal device, or other consumer product to treat suspected sleep apnea. If snoring is loud, frequent, or accompanied by breathing pauses or daytime sleepiness, seek a professional evaluation. Learn more from the NIH snoring overview.