Snoring
Snoring is common and often harmless, but loud snoring with witnessed breathing pauses, morning headaches or excessive daytime sleepiness may indicate obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OSA increases cardiovascular risk and is treatable. A GP can screen with a validated questionnaire and arrange a home sleep study.
Key information
- Symptom
- Snoring
- Category
- Sleep
- Common possible causes
- Nasal congestion, Overweight, Alcohol before bed, Sleeping on the back
- Tests that may be considered
- TSH, HbA1c, Lipid profile
- Clinic assessment
- Available same day
- Home doctor visit
- Available across Dubai
- Home blood test
- Available across Dubai
- Date reviewed
- 2026-07-01
What this symptom means
Noisy breathing during sleep caused by partial airway obstruction. May be simple snoring or a marker of obstructive sleep apnoea.
Common possible causes
- · Nasal congestion
- · Overweight
- · Alcohol before bed
- · Sleeping on the back
- · Small jaw or large tonsils
- · Menopause
Less common possible causes
- · Nasal polyps
- · Deviated septum
- · Hypothyroidism
Serious causes that must not be missed
- · Untreated obstructive sleep apnoea with cardiovascular risk
- · Witnessed breathing pauses
- · Choking arousals
- · Falling asleep while driving
- · Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Call 998 (UAE ambulance) or attend the nearest emergency department for any of the above.
When a same-day GP is appropriate
- · Falling asleep at the wheel or at work
When a routine GP appointment is fine
- · Chronic snoring assessment
- · OSA screening for people with hypertension or type 2 diabetes
Questions a doctor may ask
- · Witnessed pauses in breathing?
- · Choking or gasping arousals?
- · Daytime sleepiness (Epworth score)?
- · Blood pressure and weight?
- · Alcohol and sleeping position?
History factors that may matter
- · Overweight
- · Menopause
- · Family history of OSA
- · Hypertension resistant to treatment
Medicines that may contribute
- · Sedatives
- · Alcohol
- · Opioids
Never stop a prescribed medication without discussing it with a clinician.
What may happen during the examination
- · BMI and neck circumference
- · Blood pressure
- · Airway and nasal examination
Tests that may be considered
Blood tests
- · TSH
- · HbA1c
- · Lipid profile
Other tests
- · Epworth Sleepiness Scale
- · STOP-BANG questionnaire
- · Home sleep study
When a specialist referral may be considered
- · Sleep medicine or ENT for confirmed OSA or structural issues
Possible treatment approaches
- · Weight loss where relevant
- · Positional therapy
- · Nasal treatment for congestion
- · CPAP for moderate-to-severe OSA
- · Mandibular advancement device for mild OSA
Safe self-care
- · Avoid alcohol within 3 hours of bed
- · Side sleeping
- · Nasal saline for congestion
- · Weight management
Best avoided
- · Ignoring witnessed apnoeas
- · Sleeping tablets for snoring
How Aafiyah can help
- · GP-led OSA screening
- · Home sleep study referral
- · Weight loss and CPAP support
- · Cardiovascular risk assessment
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have sleep apnoea?+
The best next step is a validated screening questionnaire followed by a home sleep study if the score is high — both are available through the GP.
Does CPAP work?+
For moderate-to-severe OSA, CPAP is the most effective treatment and improves sleepiness, blood pressure and quality of life.
Can weight loss cure snoring?+
Meaningful weight loss often improves both snoring and mild OSA, though not always cures it.
Medical references
- · NICE — Obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome — nice.org.uk
- · British Thoracic Society — OSA — brit-thoracic.org.uk
Medically reviewed by: Dr Shahbaz Afzal — British-trained Family Medicine Consultant, DHA-licensed
Written: 2026-07-01 · Reviewed: 2026-07-01 · Next review: 2027-01-01
This page provides general medical information for people in Dubai and the UAE. It does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified clinician about any medical concern.
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"Called at 8am with a fever, had a British-trained doctor at my door by 11. He sat with me for 45 minutes — not the 5 minutes I'm used to. Prescription delivered same day. Felt like having a proper GP again."
"We finally have one doctor who knows all of us. The kids actually like going. Follow-up calls happen without us chasing. Worth every dirham."
"The 40+ marker report came back with a real conversation, not a PDF dumped in my inbox. Caught a vitamin deficiency I'd been ignoring for years."
"After surgery I dreaded going back to a hospital for dressings. Their nurse came every other day, the doctor checked in by WhatsApp. Healed faster than I expected."
"Fell ill on day two of our trip. Doctor in the suite within 90 minutes, full assessment, prescription to the hotel pharmacy. Genuinely NHS-standard care in Dubai."
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