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Snoring - When To Call a Doctor
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
- Topic Overview
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Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
Call your doctor if you or your bed partner:
- Snores loudly and heavily.
- Snores and feels sleepy during the day.
- Snores and falls asleep at inappropriate times, such as when talking or while eating.
- Stops breathing, gasps, or chokes during sleep.
Snoring is the main symptom of sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder in which you periodically stop breathing during sleep. For more information, see the topic Sleep Apnea.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment. Watchful waiting may be appropriate if your snoring does not disturb your bed partner or if you are not overly sleepy during the day. If home treatment does not help your snoring, contact your doctor.
Watchful waiting may not be appropriate if you or your sleeping partner snores loudly and heavily, is restless during sleep, is sleepy during the day, or stops breathing when sleeping. These may point to sleep apnea. Contact your doctor.
Who To See
Health professionals who can treat snoring include:
- General practitioners or primary care physicians.
- Internists.
- Pediatricians.
- Nurse practitioners.
- Physician assistants.
- Otolaryngologists.
If sleep apnea is suspected, a doctor who specializes in treating sleep disorders (often a neurologist or pulmonologist) can help set up tests to diagnose sleep apnea. If your doctor recommends an oral breathing device, you may be referred to a dentist.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: January 29, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Jan Ulfberg - Sleep Medicine | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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