Wirecutter snoring: what you should know

Snoring happens when relaxed tissues in the nose, mouth or throat vibrate as air passes during sleep. A sharp or rough sound can vary with sleeping position, nasal blockage, alcohol, a cold, allergies or the shape of the upper airway. The sound alone cannot diagnose its cause.

Obstructive sleep apnoea commonly presents with loud snoring, pauses in breathing noticed by another person, gasping, restless sleep or daytime sleepiness. Those features need clinical assessment because disrupted breathing can fragment sleep.

Ask a bed partner, if you have one, what they notice: pauses, choking sounds, position changes or frequent waking. Record when the snoring occurs, whether nasal congestion is present, and how alert you feel during the day. Side sleeping, treating known nasal allergy as advised, avoiding alcohol close to bedtime and keeping a regular sleep schedule may help some people.

Do not use someone else's mouth device or sleep treatment. A clinician can decide whether your symptoms call for a sleep assessment, nasal examination or another approach.

Book an appointment for frequent disruptive snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, waking gasping, morning headaches or sleepiness that affects driving, work or concentration. Seek urgent help if breathing difficulty is severe, or if chest pain, fainting or a sudden change in alertness occurs.

Ask whether the history suggests nasal blockage, a sleep-breathing problem or another cause, and whether a sleep study is suitable. Share any weight change, sedating medicine, alcohol use, reflux symptoms and daytime tiredness.