How to stop someone from snoring

Snoring is the sound made when relaxed tissues in the nose, mouth or throat vibrate as air moves during sleep. A blocked nose from Allergic Rhinitis or Chronic Sinusitis can narrow the airway. Sleeping on the back, drinking alcohol before bed, some sedating medicines and excess weight can also make airway narrowing more likely. Snoring itself does not establish a diagnosis, but Obstructive Sleep Apnoea can present with loud, disrupted snoring and repeated pauses in breathing.

Ask the person to sleep on their side, using a positional aid if they repeatedly roll onto their back. Treat a stuffy nose with advice from a pharmacist or clinician, and keep the bedroom free from smoke and known allergens. A regular sleep routine may help. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime and do not start, stop or change prescribed sedatives without medical advice. If weight is contributing, a clinician can discuss a Weight Management Programme. Record whether snoring happens every night, whether it is worse after alcohol or congestion, and whether anyone notices gasping or pauses.

Arrange a medical review when snoring is persistent, disturbs sleep, causes marked daytime tiredness, or remains troublesome despite home measures. Seek prompt assessment if the person has witnessed breathing pauses, choking or gasping during sleep, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, or falls asleep unintentionally. Urgent help is needed for severe breathing difficulty while awake, blue lips, chest pain or sudden confusion.

Could nasal allergy or sinus disease be narrowing the airway? Should the person be assessed for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea? Which medicines, nasal treatments or sleep-position measures are suitable? Would a sleep study or Weight Management Programme be useful?