What causes snoring?

The tongue, soft palate, and throat muscles relax during sleep. If the airway becomes narrower, moving air makes these tissues vibrate. Allergic rhinitis or chronic sinusitis may force mouth breathing or block the nose. Sleeping on the back can allow the tongue and soft palate to fall backwards. Body weight around the neck can further reduce airway space. Loud snoring with pauses, gasping, morning headaches, or marked daytime sleepiness may suggest obstructive sleep apnoea rather than simple vibration.

Try side sleeping, treat nasal symptoms with professional guidance, and avoid alcohol close to bedtime. Keep a regular sleep routine and discuss any sedating medicines with a clinician before changing them. If body weight is contributing, a structured weight management programme may help overall breathing and health. A sleep partner's observations or an audio record can help describe the pattern at an appointment.

Arrange an assessment if snoring is frequent, newly worsening, or accompanied by witnessed pauses, choking, gasping, restless sleep, morning headaches, or sleepiness that affects work or driving. Seek urgent help for severe breathlessness while awake, chest pain, fainting, or blue lips. Do not drive when you are struggling to stay awake.

Ask whether nasal congestion, medication, body weight, or obstructive sleep apnoea could be involved, and whether sleep testing is appropriate. Share reports of breathing pauses, your sleep position, and how refreshed you feel on waking.