ANSWERS
Does smoking cause snoring?
Smokers snore more, and the good news is that former smokers don't.
Key study
Smoking and breathing in sleep
- 811 adults
- Sleep lab tests
- Wisconsin, USA
Adults from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort had their breathing measured overnight. Compared with people who never smoked, current smokers had 2.29 times the odds of snoring and 4.44 times the odds of moderate or worse sleep-disordered breathing. Heavy smokers, 40 or more cigarettes a day, had the highest risk. Former smoking wasn't related to snoring or sleep-disordered breathing after adjusting for other factors.
Why smoking affects snoring
Smoke irritates the lining of the nose and throat, which can make it swell and produce more mucus, narrowing the airway. Regular snoring was also more common in smokers in the large UK survey 2.
Does quitting help?
The finding that former smokers weren't at higher risk is encouraging 1, though it doesn't prove that quitting stops snoring for everyone. Quitting has so many other benefits that snoring is one more reason. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about support.
Does smoking make you snore?
It is linked with snoring: current smokers were 2.3 times as likely to snore 1.
Will I stop snoring if I quit smoking?
Former smokers weren't at higher risk of snoring in the Wisconsin study 1, which suggests quitting helps, though other causes may remain.
Does secondhand smoke cause snoring?
There is less research in adults. Smoke irritates the airway, so a smoke-free bedroom is a good idea for everyone.
Does vaping cause snoring?
There is little research on vaping and snoring yet.
Sources
- Wetter DW, Young TB, Bidwell TR, Badr MS, Palta M. Smoking as a risk factor for sleep-disordered breathing. Arch Intern Med. 1994;154(19):2219-2224. doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1994.00420190121014
- Ohayon MM, Guilleminault C, Priest RG, Caulet M. Snoring and breathing pauses during sleep: telephone interview survey of a United Kingdom population sample. BMJ. 1997;314(7084):860-863. doi.org/10.1136/bmj.314.7084.860
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This page is general information, not medical advice. Snores is not a medical device and does not diagnose sleep apnea or any other condition. If you are worried about your sleep or your breathing, talk to a doctor.