Why do I snore, and is snoring normal?

Snoring is the sound of soft tissue in your mouth, throat or nose vibrating as you breathe in your sleep¹. It's common and often harmless. Sometimes it is a sign of sleep apnoea, so it's worth knowing the difference¹.

What makes snoring more likely

You're more likely to snore if you're overweight, smoke, drink alcohol, or sleep on your back¹.

Things that might help

Sleeping on your side¹
Losing weight, if you're overweight¹
Not smoking, and drinking less alcohol, especially in the evening¹
If your snoring keeps someone else up, earplugs might help them¹

When it's worth seeing a GP

Your breathing stops and starts, or you gasp or choke in your sleep¹
You feel very sleepy during the day¹
Changes like these haven't helped, or snoring is having a big effect on you or your partner¹

Snoring often comes with sleep apnoea, so a doctor should check before you treat the snoring itself, for example with a mouthpiece².