You snore when air moving through a partly narrowed nose or throat makes the soft tissue there vibrate.
How loud it gets depends on how narrow that airway becomes during sleep. Sleeping on your back, nasal congestion from a cold or allergies, a deviated septum, enlarged tonsils, alcohol or sedatives before bed, and extra weight around the neck all narrow it further. Snoring by itself is common and often harmless, but snoring with gasping, choking, or breathing pauses can signal obstructive sleep apnea. Simple habits help many people: sleep on your side, treat congestion, avoid alcohol within a few hours of bedtime, and keep a steady sleep schedule. If a partner hears you stop breathing, or you wake unrefreshed most days, ask a clinician about a sleep study.
How to stop snoring
Common questions
why do i snore
Snoring happens when air moves past relaxed tissue in your nose and throat and makes it vibrate. Anything that narrows that airway makes it louder: sleeping on your back, congestion from a cold or allergies, a deviated septum, large tonsils, alcohol or sedatives before bed, and extra weight around the neck. Snoring on its own is common and often harmless. It matters more when it comes with gasping, choking, pauses in breathing, morning headaches, or daytime sleepiness, since those point to obstructive sleep apnea, which a clinician can test for. Side sleeping, clearing nasal congestion, skipping alcohol near bedtime, and consistent sleep hours help many people snore less.