Health

I've started snoring. How do I stop?

That depends: Have you also started taking prescription sleeping pills or enjoying nightcaps before bed? Snoring is caused by vibrations in the soft tissue that lines your throat. Prescription sleeping pills and alcohol often spark loud snoring sessions by relaxing this tissue, increasing its vibrating potential. Dry air, allergies, and smoking have the same effect by irritating the esophagus and inflaming its mucous membranes.

Start by curtailing the above issues if they apply to you, and don't cheat by pumping your nose full of a nasal spray such as Afrin or Neo-Synephrine, which can irritate nasal passages and crank up the snoring volume. Try a nasal dilator or a breathing strip instead, as they open nasal passages and allow you to breathe more easily. Also, lose a few pounds. Weight gain is the single greatest predictor for the onset of habitual snoring, according to a recent study by Australian researchers. But if DIY treatments fail, schedule an appointment with your doctor. An upper-respiratory infection or sleep apnea might be to blame, and studies link the latter to a host of cardiovascular ills, including heart disease.

Alex Chediak, M.D. Dr. Chediak is the director of the Miami Sleep Disorders Center and president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

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