Short answer: Take it seriously. A roommate or partner is the only person who hears how you breathe while you sleep. Loud snoring on most nights, especially with pauses, gasps or choking, can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. Simple snoring often starts with a blocked nose. An ENT evaluation shows where your airway narrows and what will help.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Prashanth R. Reddy, ENT Surgeon (MS ENT) · Last reviewed: 9 November 2026
Top 3 things to ask your roommate
- How loud, and how often: every night, or only after a late meal or a drink.
- Any pauses or gasps: breathing that stops for a few seconds, then restarts with a snort.
- Which position: only on your back, or on your side as well.
Ask them to record one or two minutes of your snoring on a phone. It helps your ENT more than a description.
Snoring is a breathing sound
Snoring happens when air squeezes through a narrow part of the airway and makes the soft tissues vibrate. The narrowing can be in the nose, the soft palate, the tonsils or the base of the tongue. Finding the level is what decides the treatment.
Signs it may be more than simple snoring
- Pauses in breathing, gasping or choking at night.
- Waking unrefreshed, or feeling sleepy during the day or while driving.
- Morning headaches or a dry mouth.
- Waking often to pass urine.
- High blood pressure that is hard to control.
These can point to obstructive sleep apnea, where the airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep. Read more: Is snoring a sign of sleep apnea?
Common causes
- A blocked nose from allergy, a deviated septum or swollen turbinates.
- Large tonsils or a long soft palate.
- Weight gain around the neck.
- Alcohol or sedatives close to bedtime.
- Sleeping on your back.
What can help from tonight
- Sleep on your side.
- Avoid alcohol for a few hours before bed.
- Rinse your nose with saline if it feels blocked at night.
- Keep a regular sleep time, even on days off.
If the snoring stays loud, or your roommate notices pauses, see an ENT specialist for an evaluation.
What the ENT will check
An ENT evaluation combines your sleep history and your roommate's recording with an examination of the nose, palate, tonsils and tongue base, a nasal endoscopy and a CT scan of the nose and sinuses. This shows where and why your airway narrows. See What happens in an ENT evaluation for snoring.
Living abroad?
If you work in the Gulf, you can send your CT scan and recording ahead and have the evaluation during your leave in Bengaluru: Plan your visit to Bengaluru.
👃 Quick self-check: Snoring self-check: nose, palate or throat?
Know someone whose snoring keeps the whole room awake? Send them this.
Frequently asked questions
My roommate says I stop breathing. Is that serious? It can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, which is linked with high blood pressure, heart problems and accidents from sleepiness. Get it checked by an ENT.
Do nasal strips help? They may help snoring that comes mainly from the nose, but they do not treat sleep apnea or a fixed blockage.
Can young, slim people snore? Yes. A deviated septum, large tonsils or jaw shape can cause snoring at any age or weight.
References
- Young T, Palta M, Dempsey J, Skatrud J, Weber S, Badr S. The occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing among middle-aged adults. New England Journal of Medicine. 1993;328(17):1230-1235.
- Beninati W, Harris CD, Herold DL, Shepard JW Jr. The effect of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea on the sleep quality of bed partners. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 1999;74(10):955-958.
- Young T, Finn L, Kim H. Nasal obstruction as a risk factor for sleep-disordered breathing. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 1997;99(2):S757-S762.
Related reading: Can a blocked nose cause snoring? · Is snoring affecting your relationship? · Snoring and sleep apnea surgery
About the author
Dr. Prashanth R. Reddy is a Senior Consultant ENT Surgeon in Bengaluru (MS ENT; Fellowship in Rhinoplasty, Seoul; MBA, IIM Bangalore) with decades of practice. He sees patients at Sakra World Hospital, Marathahalli and at the ENTHealth360 clinic in Koramangala. His practice focuses on nasal causes of headache, snoring and sleep-disordered breathing.
For educational purposes only. Not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified ENT specialist.
General patient education. An individual consultation is needed to assess your symptoms and treatment options.
