Snoring

Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol (particularly just before sleeping), smoking, and sedative medications. Overweight and obese patients should be encouraged and instructed in methods to lose weight. If patients experience nasal congestion on lying flat, they may be advised to sleep with their head elevated to reduce hydrostatic congestion. If snoring only occurs, or is worsened, by sleeping on their back, patients should be advised on techniques such as pinning a rolled-up sock to the back of nightwear or wearing a t-shirt with a breast pocket the wrong way round and putting a small object such as a squash ball in the pocket to discourage lying on the back during sleep. If snoring disturbs the partner only, then ear plugs or earmuffs may help reduce the volume.