Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can also be a sign of more serious medical problems, and any number of social problems, such as…
High Blood Pressure
Heart Disease
Stroke
Diabetes
Weight Gain/Obesity
Acid Reflux
Daytime Sleepiness/Headaches
Erectile Dysfunction/Impotence
Stress/Relationship Problems
Depression/Anxiety/Irritability
Impaired Thinking
Auto Accidents
Snoring occurs when airflow into your lungs is partially blocked by the soft tissue in your throat, causing vibration.  If you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the airflow is completely blocked so breathing stops for seconds or minutes, causing blood oxygen levels to drop, resulting in un-noticed disruptions of your sleep that can have adverse effects on your hormones, metabolism, and more.
There are many options to treat snoring – lifestyle changes, pharmaceuticals, appliances, and surgery – but they all have limitations like unpredictable success rates, discomfort, side effects, non-permanent effects, and non-compliance.

Treatment Option

Lifestyle changes (ie: weight loss, avoiding caffeine & alcohol)
Pharmaceuticals (ie: tablets, nasal strips or sprays)

How It Works

Non-invasive

Limitations

Depends on environmental factors, so success rates are unpredictable, and studies are unreliable.
Dental Appliances
CPAP machines
Pushes the lower jaw forward to keep the tongue from blocking the throat, and opens the upper airways.
Only effective when they are worn, but the discomfort causes non-compliance
Surgery: 
UPPP
LAUP
Snoroplasty
Pillar Implants
Radiofrequency
The idea is to permanently remove the cause of the snoring, through various methods.  The most common methods are:  cutting, chemicals, needles, or scarring.  (See here for more information on the different techniques.)
Expensive.
Require general anesthesia.
Discomfort or pain.
Special post-op care, sometimes days off work.
Other side effects could be: sore throat, dryness, special diet, swelling, even physical therapy.
Some compare it to having a tonsillectomy.