Asthma and snoring

Snoring is vibration in narrowed tissues of the upper airway during sleep, whereas asthma involves inflammation and narrowing lower in the airways. Allergic rhinitis or chronic sinusitis can block the nose and encourage mouth breathing. Obstructive sleep apnoea commonly presents with loud snoring, repeated pauses, gasping and unrefreshing sleep. Asthma may instead cause nighttime cough, wheeze, chest tightness or breathlessness. A person can have both patterns, so the sounds alone do not establish the cause.

Keep asthma medicines and inhaler technique aligned with your treatment plan. Ask a household member to note pauses, choking or gasping, and record morning headaches, dry mouth, daytime sleepiness and nighttime asthma symptoms. Sleeping on your side, avoiding sedating medicines unless prescribed, and addressing nasal blockage may reduce some snoring. If body weight is contributing, discuss a sustainable weight-management approach with a healthcare professional rather than starting an extreme diet.

Book an appointment if snoring is persistent, someone observes breathing pauses, you wake choking, or daytime sleepiness affects driving, work or concentration. Repeated nighttime cough or wheeze also warrants an asthma review. Do not drive when struggling to stay awake. Call emergency services for severe breathlessness, inability to speak normally, blue or grey lips, confusion, collapse, or asthma symptoms that remain severe after following the emergency instructions in your action plan.

Describe whether snoring is nightly or position-dependent and whether anyone has witnessed pauses. Ask if nasal inflammation needs treatment, whether your asthma control and inhaler technique should be reviewed, and whether your symptoms justify a sleep assessment. Bring a medicine list because some medicines can add to sleepiness or relax the upper airway.