Snoring is a habit that annoys those who sleep next to you – whether at home or on a trip. Sometimes the noise can sound like a freight train roaring by. If you snore, there are several actions you can take to help you stop.

1. Visit the doctor. He can diagnose if you have sleep apnea, which might be causing the snoring. Sleep apnea causes the soft tissue to cover the airway and prevent breathing. In some cases, the problem is in the brain and it forgets to tell the body to move certain muscles so that you can breathe. After your sleep apnea has been confirmed the doctor will recommend conventional treatments to resolve your condition.

2. Use nasal strips. Everyone has seen those Breathe Right nasal strips. They work on the outside of your nose to open nasal passages so that you can breathe freely. The device is a small rigid plastic strip that fits over the bridge of your nose and behind the nostrils. It tents up the nostrils to stop snoring caused by sleeping on your back or gaining weight.

3. Take a nasal decongestant. A stuffy nose can lead to snoring. Without a clear way for air to pass through the nose and mouth to the airway, you snore. Taking medicine to shrink swollen nasal passages will mean clear sinuses and unhindered breathing at night. Nasal decongestants also contain other ingredients to deal with cold and or allergy symptoms. Try to avoid ones that cause too much sleepiness, however, since if you are suffering from sleep apnea, it will only make that condition worse.