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• Diagnosis and Tests
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Summary

Snoring is the sound you make when your breathing is blocked while you are asleep. The sound is caused by tissues at the top of your airway that strike each other and vibrate. Snoring is common, especially among older people and people who are overweight.

When severe, snoring can cause frequent awakenings at night and daytime sleepiness. It can disrupt your bed partner's sleep. Snoring can also be a sign of a serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea. You should see your health care provider if you are often tired during the day, don't feel that you sleep well, or wake up gasping.

To reduce snoring:

• Lose weight if you are overweight. It may help, but thin people can snore, too.
• Cut down or avoid alcohol and other sedatives at bedtime
• Don't sleep flat on your back

NIH: National Institute on Aging

Start Here

• Snoring (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Snoring and Sleep Apnea (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
• Snoring and Snore-Reducing Devices (American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine)

Diagnosis and Tests

• Sleep Study (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Oral Appliances Therapy (American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine)
• Treatment Options for Adults with Snoring (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)

Videos and Tutorials

• Snoring (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Snoring (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Sleep behaviors and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease.
• Article: Impacts of an Oral Appliance on Snoring in Adults with Varying...
• Article: Accuracy of Smartphone-Mediated Snore Detection in a Simulated Real-World Setting: Algorithm...
• Snoring -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery
• American Sleep Apnea Association
• Find a Sleep Center (American Academy of Sleep Medicine)
• Find an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist) (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)

Patient Handouts

• Snoring -- adults (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish