Join AARP
Get exclusive member benefits & effect social change. Join Today
Snoring is a common phenomenon. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO), up to 45 percent of American adults snore and 25 percent do so on a regular basis. Snoring is more common in men than women and can worsen with age.
Certain lifestyle changes can decrease snoring. However, some people require medical treatment if their snoring is related to a sleep disorder. If you’re concerned about frequent snoring, ask your doctor.
One cause of snoring is when the tissues in your airways relax and narrows your airway. Airflow is constricted, causing a vibrating sound. Snores can vary in volume depending on how restricted air is in your nose, mouth, or throat. Colds and allergies can worsen snoring because they cause nasal congestion and swelling of the throat.
Sometimes, your mouth’s anatomy can cause snores. People with enlarged tissues and tonsils that restrict airflow generally produce mild snores. Being overweight can also cause snoring because of excess fat buildup on your neck that constricts your airways when you lie down.
Snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea. This occurs when your breathing slows down significantly or you stop breathing for more than 10 seconds at a time while sleeping. Sleep apnea occurs when your airflow is decreased to less than 90 percent of normal. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that requires prompt treatment.
In children, snoring is often caused by obstructive sleep apnea. According to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, enlarged tonsils are often the underlying cause. A child with this condition may show signs of inattention, hyperactivity, sleepiness, or other behavioral problems during the day, due to a lack of sleep. If your child frequently snores, you should bring them to their doctor.
A physical exam can help your doctor determine if your snores are related to abnormalities in your mouth. In some cases, this physical exam is all that’s needed for a correct diagnosis and proper treatment, especially if your snoring is mild.
However, severe cases may require other diagnostic tests. Your doctor may use X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to check your airway for abnormalities. However, deviated septum is not an indication for advanced imaging studies such as CT scans, MRI scans, or X-rays They may also order a more in-depth study of your sleep patterns, called a sleep study. This requires spending the night at a clinic or sleep center with sensors on your head and other parts of your body to record:
The treatment will depend on the cause of your snoring. The AAO doesn’t recommend over-the-counter devices for snoring because they don’t treat the source of the problem. Common professional treatments include:
Corrective surgical procedures are often permanent solutions. Masks and mouthpieces must be used on a continual basis. Your doctor will likely recommend regular follow-up appointments to check your progress.
Frequent snoring increases your chances of experiencing:
Serious medical conditions are more likely to occur with OSA than they are with snoring only.
The successful treatment of your snoring depends on its cause. Sleep apnea can be treated with certain masks or procedures, but it often requires continual checkups. Many people snore more with age. If you don’t snore now, you may start to as you get older. It’s important to discuss frequent snoring with a doctor.
Mild cases of snoring may be improved with a few lifestyle changes. Maintaining a healthy weight can help your body immensely and can even help you snore less at night. Other potentially effective changes include:
Although you can do many things to prevent mild snoring, be sure to see your doctor if you snore frequently. Controlling snoring will help you sleep better and will improve your quality of life.
Written by: Kristeen Moore
Medically reviewed
on: Feb 23, 2016: University of Illinois-Chicago, College of Medicine
![]() |
Enter your symptoms in our Symptom Checker to find out possible causes of your symptoms. Go.
|
![]() |
Enter any list of prescription drugs and see how they interact with each other and with other substances. Go.
|
![]() |
Enter its color and shape information, and this tool helps you identify it. Go.
|
![]() |
Find information on drug interactions, side effects, and more. Go.
|
The FDA issued an official warning regarding the E. coli risk associated with consuming raw cookie dough containing contaminated flour.