Snoring

Simple lifestyle changes can help stop or reduce snoring.

• try to lose weight if you're overweight

• sleep on your side – try taping or stitching a tennis ball to the back of your sleepwear, or buy a special pillow or bed wedge to help keep you on your side

• consider asking your partner to use earplugs if your snoring affects their sleep

• do not smoke

• do not drink too much alcohol

• do not take sleeping pills – these can sometimes cause snoring

• lifestyle changes are not helping your snoring
• your snoring is having a big impact on your or your partner's life
• you feel sleepy during the day, your breathing stops and starts while you sleep, or you make gasping or choking noises while you sleep – you may have sleep apnoea , which can be serious if not treated

If you snore, the GP will look inside your mouth and nose to check for any problems that might be causing it.

It can help to bring someone with you to your appointment who can describe what your snoring is like, such as a partner.

The GP may do a blood test or refer you to a specialist for treatment or further tests if they're not sure what the cause is.

Talk to a doctor about the best snoring treatment for you.

Surgery is sometimes used to treat snoring if other treatments do not help.

But it's not widely available on the NHS, it does not always work and snoring can come back afterwards.

Snoring is caused by things such as your tongue, mouth, throat or airways in your nose vibrating as you breathe.

It happens because these parts of your body relax and narrow when you're asleep.

You're more likely to snore if you:

• are overweight
• smoke
• drink too much alcohol
• sleep on your back

Sometimes it's caused by a condition like sleep apnoea, which is when your airways become temporarily blocked as you sleep.