Is snoring keeping you or someone you love up at night?

A gentle purr. A soft whistle. A slow steady grumble or wheeze. An on-again-off-again snort or gasp for air. There are all kinds of sounds to snoring – and all kinds of people, even babies, do it at least sometimes. But is it simply a sound you make while sleeping or a cause for concern? That depends.

Snoring in and of itself is not considered a medical condition. It generally comes in one of two forms: Mild snoring and snoring associated with a sleep disorder, most commonly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

In both cases, the cause of the snoring sound is the same. You have tissues in the back of your throat. When you breathe, the air passes through your airway and rattles those tissues, making the vibration that produces the snoring sound. But what it signals is quite different in each case.

In very simple terms, with mild snoring (also called “primary” snoring), that’s all there is to it. Meaning, this kind of snoring doesn’t typically affect your health, because you’re breathing regularly and getting the oxygen and quality sleep your body needs.

However, when snoring is linked to obstructive sleep apnea, it’s a symptom of a serious medical condition that can affect your health – and, in severe cases, threaten your life if left untreated.

Snoring as a symptom of OSA

With obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles in your throat, including your tongue, relax in a way that narrows or blocks your airway. This makes it hard to breathe regularly.

Eventually, the difficulty in breathing makes it hard for your body to get the oxygen it needs, and your brain signals you to wake up and take a breath.

These starting and stopping cycles are called “sleep apnea events.” And if you experience them five or more times per hour, it prevents you from getting the deep, restorative sleep your body and mind need. It also meets the criteria for being diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea:

• Mild OSA: Between 5 and 15 sleep apnea events per hour

• Moderate OSA: Between 15 and 30 times per hour

• Severe OSA: More than 30 times per hour is severe
  

It’s important to note: Obstructive sleep apnea affects people in different ways, so everyone may experience different symptoms. Some people who have obstructive sleep apnea don’t snore, or don’t snore much. The key indicator is the pauses in breathing.

Health risks associated with OSA

Even if these sleep apnea events happen to you repeatedly, you might not remember waking up at all during the night. But you’ll likely feel its effects during the day. That’s why it’s equally important to pay attention to what’s happening during your waking hours.

Common daytime symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include trouble staying awake, paying attention, remembering things or staying focused. You may also feel irritable, anxious or depressed. And all these symptoms put you at greater risk for accidents, injuries, poor work performance, and other daily challenges.

In addition, these sleep apnea events cause your blood oxygen levels to drop, which makes it harder for your brain and body to function well. When you don’t get enough oxygen, it stresses your vital organs, like your heart, lungs and brain. Over the long term, this can increase the risk for developing serious health conditions, including:

• High blood pressure

• Heart disease

• Heart attack

• Stroke

• Type 2 diabetes

• Obesity

• Depression

• Anxiety

Untreated sleep apnea can make existing health conditions worse or more difficult to manage, too.

Unfortunately, most people with obstructive sleep apnea don’t know they have it. They often just figure they don’t sleep well and that’s normal. However, OSA affects an estimated 30 million people in the United States and 1 billion globally.^{1, 2} In other words, if any of the above sounds familiar, it’s a good idea to consult with a medical professional.

Risks for bed partners and housemates

Snoring can also disturb bed partners or housemates sleeping within earshot, and consistent sleep disruptions can carry many risks, beyond them wanting to sleep separately because of excessive snoring.

When people don’t get enough sleep in the short term, they tend to feel drained, down and cranky. It can affect their ability to focus, manage their emotions and get stuff done. On a personal level, it can strain relationships, too. They may begin to resent you for snoring or feel less compassionate toward you on a day-to-day basis.

On a physical level, the lack of quality sleep can impact their overall health. Long-term poor sleep is linked to a range of health concerns, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, stroke and a weakened immune system.

Who’s most likely to snore and why

Even though it’s estimated that nearly half of people snore sometimes and one in four snore most of the time,³ most people don’t know they do. One way to find out if you snore is to ask someone who’s slept near you several times. You can also try a noise activated recording device or app while you sleep. Another way is to check out the list below and see if any of it sounds like you.

While most people snore from time to time, it’s more common among males, as you age, or if you’re carrying excess weight. Other risk factors include:

• Lifestyle choices, like consuming alcohol or using sedatives, because they relax the muscles in the throat.

• Physical features that limit or block airflow, like having large tonsils, adenoids or tongue; a small jaw that’s set back; a soft palate (the flexible tissue at the back of the roof of your mouth); a deviated septum (meaning your nasal passages are uneven); or growths (called polyps) in your nose.

• Illnesses, like allergies, sinus infection or colds that cause nasal congestion.

• Sleeping on your back and/or with your mouth open since this can make it harder for air to flow freely.

• Being in the later stages of pregnancy, due to hormone changes and weight gain.
  

When to consult a medical provider

If you snore – especially three or more times a week – it’s a good idea to talk to a medical provider. You’ll usually want to start with your primary care physician. They’ll likely review your symptoms, lifestyle factors and medical history with you, and do a preliminary physical examination.

If they suspect your snoring may be linked to obstructive sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, then they will likely refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist and/or a sleep doctor (somnologist). An ENT can examine your nose, mouth and throat to see if something physical may be causing you to snore, such as the shape and size of your airway. A sleep doctor can do a sleep study test to find out if you have a sleep disorder and, if so, which type.

These medical professionals can help determine if your snoring is a just a nuisance or a symptom of a medical condition like obstructive sleep apnea. In either case, they can recommend ways to help you snore less.

Treatments for primary snoring

For “primary” snoring, they will likely suggest solutions to improve airflow. A first step is usually to adjust habits and behaviors that may contribute to relaxing your muscles or blocking your airway. These may include:

• Avoiding drinking alcohol and using sleeping pills; sleeping on your side with your mouth closed

• Elevating your head and upper body by using a wedge pillow or adjustable bed

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Staying physically active; sticking to a sleep routine

• Creating a comfortable sleeping environment

In addition, they may suggest over-the-counter remedies, like nasal strips to open your nostrils or a mouth guard to help position your jaw or tongue to avoid airway blockages, or allergy or sinus medications to unclog nasal congestion. Some people are also encouraged to do exercises to strengthen their throat, mouth and tongue muscles.

In severe cases, they may recommend surgery to address structural features that may be contributing to your snoring. These typically require hospitalization and longer recovery than other less invasive treatment options.

Treatments for obstructive sleep apnea

If they determine you have obstructive sleep apnea, then they’ll usually begin with similar lifestyle adjustments, like avoiding alcohol and sedatives, increasing physical activity, losing excess weight, and improving your sleep schedule and environment. They may also recommend dental appliances like mouthpieces to reposition your jaw and tongue for better airflow.

While these kinds of solutions can help reduce symptoms, they are usually not enough to bring OSA symptoms to a safe level on their own. As a result, most people with obstructive sleep apnea are also prescribed additional medical treatment.

Continuous positive air pressure

The most common medical device therapy prescribed is a CPAP machine. As noted above, these devices force air through a hose and mask to help keep your airway open during sleep. While some people experience symptom relief with CPAP and similar machines, many struggle with or stop using them. This can be for a variety of reasons, but often includes discomfort using the mask and difficulty maintaining the equipment.

Nerve stimulation therapy

For those who struggle with CPAP, Inspire^® therapy is another option. It’s the leading – and longest in use – FDA-approved nerve stimulation therapy for treating OSA – more than 100,000 people have trusted it to treat their OSA.⁴

Different from other OSA treatments, Inspire therapy is a mask-free⁵ solution that works comfortably⁶ inside your body to treat the root cause of OSA. The small Inspire^® implant, placed under your skin near your collarbone during a short outpatient procedure, delivers gentle pulses to your airway muscles while you sleep. These pulses help keep your airway open, so you can breathe regularly and sleep soundly. You use a small remote control to turn the therapy on and off.

Additional options

Finally, as with primary snoring, your provider may recommend surgery to adjust the structure of your nose, mouth, throat or jaw to improve airflow. If excess weight is contributing to your symptoms, they may suggest weight-loss surgery or prescription medications.

The specific type of surgery would depend on your unique needs, but it often involves repairing airway-related structures or removing tissue that blocks airflow. Be sure to go over the pros and cons of these types of procedures with your provider, as they are typically more invasive than other treatments and may have lower long-term success rates.

Consult a medical provider

If snoring is affecting your sleep or the sleep of those around you, it’s a good idea to consult with a medical professional. Snoring can be a sign of a serious medical condition, like obstructive sleep apnea, or contribute to long-term poor sleep quality that may lead to health concerns.

Sources

1. Cleveland Clinic, Sleep Apnea: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment. January 15, 2025.
   

2. American Medical Association, What doctors wish patients knew about sleep apnea. April 1, 2022.
   

3. Johns Hopkins Medicine, Snoring. Accessed May 6, 2025.
   

4. Data on file.
   

5. ADHERE Registry: Data on File
   

6. Suurna MV, Steffen A, Boon M, et al. Impact of Body Mass Index and Discomfort on Upper Airway Stimulation: ADHERE Registry 2020 Update. Laryngoscope 2021; 131(11): 2616-2624.

Cleveland Clinic, Snoring: Causes, Remedies & Prevention. May 11, 2023.

HealthDirect, How to stop snoring. November 2023.

Mayo Clinic, Obstructive sleep apnea - Symptoms and causes. July 14, 2023.

NIH, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Does how loud you snore matter to your health? March 13, 2024.

NIH, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, How Sleep Works - Why Is Sleep Important? March 24, 2022.

Sleep Foundation, Snoring: The Causes, Dangers, & Treatment Options. November 22, 2023.

Sleep Foundation, When Your Partner Snores, No One Sleeps. February 15, 2024.