Snoring

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Introduction Causes When to seek medical advice Screening and diagnosis

Complications Treatment Self-care

Introduction

Loud and frequent snoring can be more than just a nuisance to your partner. This nighttime annoyance may indicate a serious health condition, and it can disrupt your household and strain your relationships.

Snoring is common. More than one-third of adults snore at least a few nights each week. Snoring occurs when air flows past relaxed tissues in your throat, causing the tissues to vibrate as you breathe, creating hoarse or harsh sounds.

To restore peace and quiet as well as domestic harmony, lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or sleeping on your side, can help stop snoring.

In addition, surgery is available that may reduce disruptive snoring. However, surgery isn't suitable for everyone who snores. People with obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially serious disorder characterized by episodes of loud snoring followed by periods of silence when breathing briefly stops, aren't always good candidates for surgery.

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Causes