Snoring is common. Snoring may be an occasional problem, or it may be habitual. More than one-third of adults snore at least a few nights each week. Snoring occurs when the tissues in your throat relax enough, they vibrate and may partially obstruct your airway and create hoarse or harsh sounds.

To restore peace and quiet as well as domestic harmony, lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or sleeping on your side, can help stop snoring. In addition, surgery is other option that may reduce disruptive snoring in selective cases.

What contributes to snoring
A variety of factors can lead to snoring, including:

Your mouth structure: Having a low, thick soft palate or enlarged tonsils or tissues in the back of your throat can narrow your airway. Any factor causes airflow to be obstructed and vibration increased may cause snoring.

Alcohol consumption: Snoring also can be brought on by consuming too much alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol acts as a sedative, relaxing throat muscles.

Nasal problems: Chronic nasal congestion or a crooked partition between your nostrils (deviated nasal septum) may be to blame.

Sleep apnea is also considered an important factor of snoring.

Treatment

• The first line of treatment is lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol close to bedtime and changing sleeping positions. If lifestyle changes do not eliminate snoring, doctor may suggest:
• Oral appliances. Oral appliances are form-fitting dental mouthpieces that help advance the position of your tongue and soft palate to keep your air passage open. If you choose to use an oral appliance, you should be checked by a dentist at least once every six months during the first year, and then at least annually after that, so he or she can check the fit and assess your current signs and symptoms to be sure that your condition is not worsening.
• Traditional surgery (called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty), Laser surgery, Radio frequency tissue ablation (somnoplasty) Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) are the other options of treatment evaluated by the surgeon.
• Self-care
• To prevent or quiet snoring, try these tips:
• If you are overweight, lose weight. Being overweight is a common cause of snoring. Loose throat tissues are more likely to vibrate as you breathe, and extra bulkiness in the throat narrows your airway.
• Sleep on your side. Lying on your back allows your tongue to fall backward into your throat, narrowing your airway and partially obstructing airflow.
• Nasal strips. Adhesive strips applied to your nose help many people increase the area of their nasal passage, enhancing their breathing.
• Don't use an oral or spray decongestant for more than three days in a row for acute congestion unless directed to do so by your doctor.
• Limit or avoid alcohol and sedatives. Avoid drinking alcohol at least four hours before bedtime, and let your doctor know about your snoring before taking sedatives or hypnotics. Sedatives and hypnotics (sleeping pills) and alcohol depress your central nervous system, causing excessive relaxation of muscles, including the tissues in your throat. In addition, if you stop breathing due to obstructive sleep apnea, it may take longer for you to begin breathing again because alcohol, sedatives and hypnotics blunt the brain's ability to arouse from sleep.