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Snoring
Category: Mind, Mood & Sleep · All mind & sleep symptoms
What it can feel like
Snoring is the sound of a partially obstructed upper airway vibrating during sleep. Simple snoring is common and mainly a partner problem; snoring becomes medically important when it arrives with witnessed pauses in breathing (apnoeas), gasping awakenings, unrefreshing sleep and daytime sleepiness — the picture of obstructive sleep apnoea.
Possible causes
A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.
Common causes
Snoring can be associated with nasal congestion, sleeping on the back, alcohol in the evening (which relaxes airway muscles), weight gain (fat around the neck narrows the airway), enlarged tonsils, and the natural loss of airway muscle tone with age and sleep depth.
Other possible causes
Snoring with apnoeas can be associated with obstructive sleep apnoea, which strains the heart and is linked to high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems (atrial fibrillation), stroke, type 2 diabetes and road accidents from sleepiness.
Red flags — when to seek help promptly
- Witnessed apnoeas — breathing pauses followed by a gasp or snort
- Snoring with excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches or unrefreshing sleep
- Snoring in a child with pauses, mouth breathing or behavioural change
- Falling asleep while driving or in other dangerous situations
- Snoring with high blood pressure that is hard to control
What a clinician may do
A clinician will ask the bed partner's account (they hold the evidence), measure neck size and blood pressure, and score sleepiness. Suspected apnoea leads to an overnight sleep study — home oximetry or full polysomnography — and treatment from weight and positional measures to CPAP (night-time airway pressure).
Watch: related videos
Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.
Related guides on MedicalVideos.com
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my snoring is apnoea?
Volume alone does not tell. The markers are witnessed pauses, gasping or choking awakenings, unrefreshing sleep despite enough hours, morning headaches, and daytime sleepiness out of proportion. A partner's report of pauses is the single most valuable piece of evidence to bring.
Does losing weight really help snoring?
Yes — neck circumference directly affects airway calibre, and modest weight loss measurably reduces both snoring and apnoea severity in trials. It is slow, so it is paired with faster measures (side-sleeping, treating nasal blockage, CPAP when apnoea is significant) rather than offered alone.
Related symptoms — Mind, Mood & Sleep
Browse the S section of the A–Z list or return to the Symptoms A–Z hub.