What is snoring?

Snoring is the sound you make during sleep when the flow of air from your mouth or nose to your lungs makes the tissues of your throat vibrate. This can make a loud, raspy noise. Sometimes people who snore also have sleep apnea. This means you stop breathing at times during sleep.

Snoring can be soft or loud. If you have a bed partner, they may notice that you sleep with your mouth open or that you're restless while sleeping. If snoring keeps you or your bed partner from getting a good night's sleep, either or both of you may feel tired during the day.

If you have a bed partner, they may notice that you snore or stop breathing at times during sleep. Stopping breathing can be a sign of sleep apnea. If your doctor thinks that you might have sleep apnea, you will be referred for a sleep study to find out.

You may be able to treat snoring by making changes in your lifestyle and in the way you prepare for sleep. For example:

• Lose weight if you're overweight.
• Quit smoking.
• Sleep on your side and not your back.
• Limit alcohol and medicines such as sedatives before you go to bed.
• If a stuffy nose makes your snoring worse, use decongestants or nasal corticosteroid sprays.
• Try nasal strips or nasal disks. They attach to the outside of your nose to help with breathing during sleep.
• During sleep, use a device in your mouth that helps you breathe. It pushes your tongue and jaw forward to improve airflow.

If you snore and have sleep apnea, you may be able to use a machine that helps you breathe while you sleep. This treatment is called continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP (say "SEE-pap"). In rare cases, surgery may be used to treat snoring.

There are things you can do to help with snoring. Lose weight if you're overweight, avoid alcohol, and keep good sleep habits. Try sleeping on your side, raising the head of your bed, treating a blocked or stuffy nose, and using nasal strips or breathing devices during sleep. If you smoke, quit.