Snoring: Is it dangerous or a harmless annoyance?

Antoinette Rutherford, MD

Pulmonology

Whether you have a partner who sounds like they’re sawing logs or you’re the culprit, snoring can feel like it’s ruining your sleep. Regardless of who’s causing the problem, you’ll want to figure out how to stop it. And you’re not alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 25% of women and 45% of men report habitual snoring.

Sleep medicine specialist Antoinette Rutherford, MD, explained what causes snoring, when to see a doctor and what you can do to stop snoring.

What causes snoring and how can it affect your sleep?

Dr. Rutherford said snoring can happen when you’re having difficulty breathing through your nose due to a narrowing of the passageway. It can also happen if your throat muscles are relaxing at night, causing the airway to close, or if the tongue is relaxing and blocking the airway.

“Most snoring comes through the nose, but there can be a variety of causes,” she said. “To figure out the cause, we might do a sleep study to determine where the snoring is coming from and what treatment might help.”

Although snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that can put serious stress on the heart, not everyone who snores has obstructive sleep apnea. Regardless, it can still impact your health.

“You may not have oxygen levels dropping or blockages of the airway, but the fact that you’re snoring can be disruptive and cause you to feel tired,” Dr. Rutherford said.

This continued sleep deprivation can lead to all kinds of health issues, including problems with high blood pressure, heart disease and blood sugar control if you have diabetes.

“If you’re routinely tired or fatigued, you definitely should see a doctor,” Dr. Rutherford said. “I often get referrals because the bed partner can’t sleep even though the patient is sleeping fine. If you have a bed partner who is snoring, encourage them to see a doctor, and maybe even go with them to the visit.”

She said some people record their bed partner’s snoring with their phones and this can be helpful to share with your doctor.

What can you do to stop snoring?

If your doctor has ruled out an underlying health issue and your problem is limited to snoring, there are a variety of options that can help you stop snoring, including:

• Over-the-counter treatments that widen your airway, such as nasal strips or appliances you place inside the nose.
• Nasal spray to help relieve nasal congestion.
• A dental device that moves your lower jaw forward to create more space in your throat.

There are also lifestyle changes that can help, such as stopping smoking, losing weight and avoiding alcohol before bedtime.

Is mouth taping a safe way to control snoring?

Although there are claims on social media that taping your mouth shut can prevent snoring by forcing you to breathe through your nose, Dr. Rutherford said mouth taping is not safe, especially if you have underlying health problems.

“Mouth taping could cause you to retain carbon dioxide,” she explained. “We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. If you tape your mouth, you could reduce the oxygen you need and increase your carbon dioxide levels which can lead to headaches and other problems – even death.”

The bottom line about snoring

If you snore, tell your doctor so you can be evaluated and find a solution to help you stop. It might be tempting to try the latest social media claim, but it’s better to make sure that the treatment you’re using is science based and safe.