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SpanishWhat causes snoring can differ from one person to another—and several factors may contribute at once. The sound comes from tissues vibrating as air moves through a narrowed upper airway during sleep. Snoring alone does not tell you whether oxygen levels are falling or whether you have obstructive sleep apnea.
Start with the pattern: when did it begin, what seems to make it worse, and are there other symptoms? Those details are more useful than choosing a “cure” from the noise alone.
Common contributors to snoring
Sleep position
Snoring may be worse on your back. Trying a comfortable side-sleeping position can help some people, but it does not guarantee an open airway or rule out sleep apnea. There is no single pillow height that cures everyone’s snoring.
A blocked nose
A cold or nasal allergy can make breathing through the nose harder. Note whether the snoring appeared alongside congestion or changes with the pollen season. A pharmacist or clinician can help identify an appropriate approach; nasal strips and different types of nasal spray do not all work in the same way. See our guide to nasal sprays and snoring remedies.
Alcohol and medicines
Alcohol and some sedating medicines can contribute to snoring. If you notice a change after starting or adjusting a medicine, tell the prescriber or pharmacist. Do not reduce a prescribed dose, stop treatment or replace it with an herbal remedy on the basis of a snoring article.
Anatomy, weight and age
The shape and size of the upper airway matter. Weight around the neck can contribute to narrowing, although people of different body sizes can snore. Snoring can also become more common with age and after menopause. These are possible contributors, not a diagnosis and not a reason to assume that nothing can help.
When a change deserves a medical conversation
Arrange assessment if someone notices breathing pauses, repeated gasping or choking, or if you are very sleepy during the day. These symptoms can suggest sleep apnea. A quieter night after trying a remedy does not show that a breathing disorder has been treated.
If snoring starts or becomes substantially worse during pregnancy, mention it to your maternity team, especially alongside breathing pauses or marked sleepiness. Advice about products and treatment should take pregnancy into account. Do not begin weight-loss measures during pregnancy based on general snoring advice.
What to record before an appointment
- When the snoring began and whether it happens most nights.
- Whether it changes with sleeping position, nasal congestion or alcohol.
- Any breathing pauses, choking, morning symptoms or daytime sleepiness.
- Current medicines and any recent changes.
- What you have tried, for how long and what actually changed.
You do not need a perfect record or a recording app. A short note from you or your partner can be enough to start the discussion. Do not postpone assessment to finish a diary when concerning symptoms are present.
Where Asonor fits
Asonor is intended to reduce snoring through local lubrication and hydration of the mucous membranes in the throat. It is applied through the nostrils using a jet-stream applicator. It is not a treatment for sleep apnea and cannot establish the cause of your snoring. Read the instructions for use and consider whether its intended purpose matches your needs.
