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Snoring
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Mouth Teeth

Snoring

Snoring, caused by vibrating airway tissues, can disrupt sleep and may indicate serious conditions like sleep apnea.

Overview

Snoring is the sound you make when your breathing is blocked while you are asleep. The sound is caused by tissues at the top of your airway that strike each other and vibrate. Snoring is common, especially among older people and people who are overweight.

Symptoms and Impact

When severe, snoring can cause frequent awakenings at night and daytime sleepiness. It can disrupt your bed partner's sleep. Snoring can also be a sign of a serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea. You should see your health care provider if you are often tired during the day, don't feel that you sleep well, or wake up gasping.

Treatment & Management

To reduce snoring:

  • Lose weight if you are overweight. It may help, but thin people can snore, too.
  • Cut down or avoid alcohol and other sedatives at bedtime
  • Don't sleep flat on your back

Frequently Asked Questions

While occasional snoring is common, you should be concerned if your snoring is very loud and frequent, if you experience pauses in breathing during sleep (witnessed by a partner), wake up gasping or choking, feel excessively tired during the day, have morning headaches, or struggle with concentration. These symptoms strongly suggest obstructive sleep apnea, which requires medical evaluation.
Other strategies include changing your sleep position (sleeping on your side instead of your back), using nasal strips or dilators to open nasal passages, trying an oral appliance (mouthguard) fitted by a dentist to keep your airway open, or using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine if diagnosed with sleep apnea. Addressing allergies or nasal congestion can also help.
Untreated severe snoring, especially when associated with sleep apnea, can lead to serious health problems. These include an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, irregular heartbeats, and daytime fatigue that impairs concentration, increases accident risk, and negatively impacts mood and quality of life.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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