How to stop snoring while sleeping?

How to Stop Snoring While Sleeping

Snoring affects up to 45% of adults at least occasionally. While often harmless, it can disrupt your sleep and that of your partner. Understanding why snoring happens and adopting simple lifestyle changes can help you breathe more quietly—and sleep more soundly.

What Is Snoring?
Snoring occurs when air flows past relaxed tissues in your throat, causing them to vibrate. Factors that narrow or obstruct the airway make snoring more likely:

• Anatomical features: a long soft palate, large tonsils or tongue, or a deviated septum
• Excess weight: extra tissue around your neck
• Alcohol, sedatives or heavy meals before bed: relax throat muscles
• Sleeping on your back: allows tongue and soft tissues to fall backward
• Nasal congestion: from allergies, colds or sinus issues

Is Snoring Dangerous?
Most snoring is benign, but loud, frequent snoring can signal sleep-disordered breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most serious form, where airway collapse causes breathing pauses, low oxygen levels and fragmented sleep. Left untreated, OSA raises risks of high blood pressure, heart disease and daytime fatigue.

When to Seek Help
Talk to your doctor if you or your bed partner notice:

• Pauses in breathing or gasping during sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness or morning headaches
• Difficulty concentrating or mood changes

You might also consider doing a free, online symptom check for to decide if you need professional evaluation.

Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Snoring
Small habits can make a big difference in how you sleep and snore:

• Lose excess weight
– Even a modest reduction in body mass index (BMI) can shrink fatty neck tissue.
– Combine a balanced diet with regular aerobic exercise.

• Avoid alcohol and sedatives before bedtime
– Alcohol relaxes throat muscles for up to two hours.
– If you take a sleep aid, discuss alternatives with your doctor.

• Change your sleep position
– Side-sleeping prevents your tongue and soft palate from falling back.
– Sew a tennis ball into the back of a pajama top to discourage rolling onto your back.
– A specially designed pillow may also help keep your head and neck aligned.

• Keep nasal passages clear
– Use a humidifier to prevent drying of the nose and throat.
– Try nasal strips or internal nasal dilators to open nostrils.
– Treat allergies or chronic congestion with saline rinses or antihistamines.

Oral Appliances (Mandibular Advancement Devices)
If lifestyle tweaks aren’t enough, a dentist can fit a mandibular advancement device (MAD). This custom mouthpiece shifts your lower jaw forward, increasing airway size and reducing tissue vibration.

Hoekema et al. (2004) reviewed MADs and found:

• Significant reduction in snoring intensity and frequency
• High patient satisfaction and safety over long-term use
• Some side effects—jaw discomfort or tooth movement—that usually lessen over time

MADs are best for mild to moderate snoring or mild OSA. Always have one fitted by a qualified professional.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
For moderate to severe OSA, CPAP remains the gold standard. A machine delivers constant air pressure through a mask, preventing airway collapse. Benefits include:

• Dramatic reduction in snoring and apneas
• Improved daytime alertness and mood
• Lower cardiovascular risks

Getting used to CPAP can take time. Work closely with your sleep specialist to find the right mask style and pressure settings.

Surgical Options
If anatomy is the main culprit—like enlarged tonsils or a deviated septum—surgery may help:

• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) trims excess soft palate and uvula tissue
• Septoplasty corrects a deviated septum
• Tonsillectomy removes enlarged tonsils

Surgery carries risks and recovery time. It’s usually reserved for those who don’t respond to conservative measures or have severe OSA.

Other Considerations
• Stay hydrated. Dry throat tissues stick together more easily and vibrate.
• Establish regular sleep patterns. Consistent bedtimes improve overall sleep quality.
• Avoid heavy meals and caffeine close to bedtime. Both can disrupt sleep and worsen snoring.
• Elevate your bed’s head by 4–6 inches. Gravity helps keep airways open.

Long-Term Outlook
For many, combining several strategies leads to lasting relief:

• Overweight snorers often see the greatest improvement with weight loss.
• Those with mild snoring may do well with positional therapy and nasal aids alone.
• People diagnosed with OSA usually need CPAP or an oral appliance, plus lifestyle changes.

Peppard et al. (2000) found that untreated sleep-disordered breathing tends to worsen over time, especially with weight gain or aging. Addressing snoring early can prevent more serious sleep apnea.

Take-Home Tips

• Start with simple lifestyle changes: weight loss, side-sleeping and avoiding alcohol.
• Try nasal strips or a humidifier if congestion is an issue.
• If snoring persists, consider a dental device fitted by a sleep dentist.
• For loud, frequent snoring with daytime sleepiness, get evaluated for sleep apnea.

Always speak to a doctor about any symptoms that interfere with daily life or suggest a serious condition. If you experience choking, gasping or breathing pauses at night, seek medical advice promptly. A sleep specialist can guide you to the right tests and treatments—so you and your partner can finally enjoy a peaceful night’s rest.