Snoring is a loud breathing sound that occurs during sleep. It can increase the risk for diabetes, obesity, hypertension, stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular problems. Possible causes include:

• Being overweight
• Tissue swelling during the last month of pregnancy
• Crooked or bent nasal septum, which is the wall of bone and cartilage between your nostrils
• Growths in your nasal passages
• Stuffy nose from a cold or allergies
• Swelling in the roof of your mouth (soft palate) or the uvula, the piece of tissue that hangs down in the back of your mouth
• Swollen adenoids and tonsils that block the airways
• A tongue that is wider at the base, or a larger tongue in a smaller mouth
• Poor muscle tone

Signs & Symptoms

Snoring is often associated with a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. If snoring is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, the patient may need to be evaluated for obstructive sleep apnea:

• Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Morning headaches
• Sore throat upon awakening
• Restless sleep
• Gasping or choking at night
• High blood pressure
• Chest pain at night
• Snoring so loud it’s disrupting partner’s sleep

Diagnosis

Snoring is easy to diagnose, though the underlying cause may require additional testing by a Deborah physician.