What type of snorer are you?
And how to tell what’s actually causing it
Snoring is often talked about like it’s one simple problem.
But in reality, it isn’t.
Snoring happens when air struggles to move freely through your airway during sleep, causing the surrounding tissues to vibrate. The key thing most people don’t realise is this:
Where that blockage happens can be completely different from person to person.
And that’s why some solutions work for some people… and do nothing for others.
The 5 most common types of snoring (and how to identify yours)
1. Nasal snoring
What it sounds like:
Blocked, congested, sometimes quieter or “whistling”
How to tell:
• You often have a blocked nose at night
• Snoring gets worse with colds or allergies
• You breathe better through your mouth than your nose
What’s happening:
Air is struggling to pass through your nose, increasing resistance and forcing airflow elsewhere.
2. Mouth breathing snoring
What it sounds like:
Dry, open-mouth snoring
How to tell:
• You wake up with a dry mouth
• Your mouth falls open when you sleep
• You struggle to breathe through your nose at night
What’s happening:
Breathing through the mouth increases vibration in the throat and reduces natural airflow control.
3. Tongue-based snoring
What it sounds like:
Deeper, heavier snoring that changes with position
How to tell:
• Your snoring is worse on your back
• It improves when you sleep on your side
• Your partner notices changes depending on position
What’s happening:
Your tongue relaxes and falls backwards during sleep, partially blocking the airway.
4. Throat or “classic” snoring
What it sounds like:
Loud, consistent, low-frequency snoring
How to tell:
• It happens most nights
• It doesn’t change much with position
• It’s the typical disruptive snore people complain about
What’s happening:
The soft palate and throat walls relax too much, narrowing the airway and creating vibration.
5. Sleep apnoea-related snoring
What it sounds like:
Snoring with pauses, gasping, or choking
How to tell:
• You stop breathing briefly during sleep (often noticed by a partner)
• You wake up feeling unrefreshed
• You feel excessively tired during the day
What’s happening:
The airway repeatedly collapses, interrupting breathing. This is a medical condition and should be assessed by a professional.
Why this matters
Most snoring solutions focus on just one part of the problem:
• Nasal strips open the nose
• Mouthguards move the jaw
• CPAP uses air pressure to hold the airway open
But for many people, snoring is not just structural
It’s also about how the airway muscles behave during sleep.
Where Zeus fits and who it’s for
Zeus is designed to support the muscles that help keep your airway open during sleep.
Instead of forcing the airway open, it uses gentle stimulation to help maintain natural muscle tone through the night.
Zeus may be suitable if:
• Your snoring comes from the tongue or throat
• It’s worse when you’re deeply asleep or lying on your back
• You’re looking for a non-invasive, wearable solution
Who Zeus may not be right for
Being honest here matters.
Zeus is unlikely to help if:
• Your snoring is primarily caused by nasal blockage
• You have severe or diagnosed sleep apnoea requiring medical treatment
• Your snoring is driven by structural issues that need surgical or specialist care
The takeaway
Snoring isn’t one problem.
It’s a mix of different causes, happening in different parts of the airway.
And the most effective way to reduce it isn’t guessing
It’s understanding what type of snorer you actually are
Because once you know that
You can choose a solution that’s actually designed for you
