Snoring: nuisance or health problem? About half of all adults snore on a given night. Frequent or loud snoring in a child is almost always abnormal and should be thoroughly evaluated. All snoring is due to narrowing of the airway. When we fall asleep all of the muscles in our body relax and get a little floppy. The muscles that make up the airway get floppy too, and the airway narrows. This results in reduced airflow which causes tissue in the throat to vibrate and make the sound of a snore. Usually the person who snores is unaware of the sound, and it is those who are distrubed by it that bring it to their attention. Every night thousands of couples sleep apart because of one partner's snoring. There are times when snoring indicates a serious health condition. If the flow of air is reduced too much, the oxygen level in the body can drop and lead to dangerous health problems like high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. Snoring can also make the work of breathing so hard that sleep quality is ruined. The snorer may be unconscious all night, but they are not getting any deep sleep or any REM sleep. The next morning they wake up exhausted. They are sleepy during the day and can never get enough sleep. This condition is called obstructive sleep apnea. Because frequent or loud snoring may represent a medical problem it should be evaluated by a physician.Either way there are effective treatments for snoring including dental devices and minimally invasive surgery.