By the way, doctor: What can I do about my snoring?

Q. My wife says I snore a lot. I don't think I have sleep apnea, but I'm not sure. Is there anything I can do for a serious snoring problem?

A. People snore when the airways in the nose and throat get too small, so the air rushing in and out as they inhale and exhale gets funneled through a narrower passageway. The noise is mainly from the vibration of loose tissue, often the soft palate, the slender piece of tissue in the back of the throat.