Scientists estimate that 30 million Americans snore and that 2.5 million of them suffer from sleep apnea. Snoring occurs when floppy tissue in the airway relaxes during sleep and vibrates. Most scoring is caused by an enlarged soft palate and uvula at the back of the mouth, though the tongue, tonsils, adenoids and congested nasal passages can also contribute to the sound. The level of snoring can be aggravated by excess weight, alcohol intake, and smoking. Snoring may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a serious disorder in which the snorer stops breathing several times an hour during sleep.

Simple snoring can be treated with weight loss, breathing strips, oral appliances, laser surgery, or a new procedure that shrinks tissue using radio frequency energy. Apnea is treated with “continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)” equipment worn over the nasal passage at bedtime, weight loss, medications, and/or laser surgery (if an abnormal growth is causing the problem).