Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Key Takeaways
- Snoring is common, but it can also be a sign of sleep apnea.
- Untreated snoring and sleep apnea raise risks for heart disease, diabetes, and poor mental health.
- Lifestyle changes and CPAP therapy can reduce snoring and improve sleep.
Does snoring wake you or your partner up at night? For many people, snoring is more than an annoying habit. Sometimes, snoring is a symptom of something more serious, sleep apnea. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea have similarities and some common risk factors.
Why Do People Snore?
While breathing air is pushed through the throat, nose, and mouth. Vibration of tissues in the back of the throat causes snoring. These vibrations occur when the airway is partially blocked during sleep. This can be caused by factors like mouth breathing because of nasal congestion, sleeping position, age, obesity, relaxed throat muscles, or elongated uvula or soft palate.
Snoring¹ can be a symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). However, just because a person snores doesn’t mean they have sleep apnea.
Snoring vs. Sleep Apnea
Snoring is a sound made when air causes tissues to vibrate in your throat while you are asleep. Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder that is characterized by repeated pauses in breathing. These pauses are often accompanied by gasping, loud snoring, and morning headaches.
Most people who have sleep apnea do snore, but just because someone snores doesn’t mean they have sleep apnea. The biggest difference is that breathing stops and causes gasping when you have sleep apnea.
Signs Snoring Might Be Sleep Apnea
Medical testing is the only way to determine if you have sleep apnea or just snore a lot. But snoring is often a sign you have sleep apnea. However, there are people who snore and do not have OSA, and not everyone with sleep apnea snores.
Snoring and symptoms alone may not mean you have sleep apnea. It’s also hard to know how severe it may be.² But when you recognize the signs of sleep apnea, you know it’s time to talk to your primary care provider. Sometimes, your partner or roommate may notice some of the symptoms of sleep apnea, including:
- Excessive snoring
- Pauses in your breathing
- Gasping for air or choking
However, there are also daytime signs that you have sleep apnea and not just a loud snorer!
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. This isn’t just getting a little sleepy. It’s feeling sleepy during times and activities when you should be alert. For example, you may doze off while reading, driving, or watching your favorite television show.
- High Blood Pressure. A lot of people who have sleep apnea also have high blood pressure. However, there are many other conditions that can cause elevated blood pressure, but if it occurs with other symptoms, it may be a sign of sleep apnea.
- Poor Concentration. When sleep apnea reduces your sleep quality, you may have more difficulty with focus or attention at school or work.
Long-Lasting Effects of Snoring
For most people, snoring is just a minor nuisance. But excessive, long-term snoring can be lined to some major health conditions, like stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Here are some of the main health concerns associated with snoring.³
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Sleep Apnea
- Depression & Mental Health Concerns
- Weight Gain & Diabetes
Treatment for Snoring
Getting a proper diagnosis and treatment for snoring and sleep apnea are important for protecting your long-term health. Talk to your health care professional about treatment options. You may use more than one to manage snoring or sleep apnea so you can sleep better and feel better. Get started with these suggestions.
Maintaining Healthy Weight
People who are obese or overweight are more likely to snore and more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea.⁴ Being overweight can put more pressure on the airway, which leads to snoring. Even losing a few pounds can make a big difference. Maintaining a healthy weight for you can help minimize snoring.
Reducing Alcohol Consumption
A recent study⁵ revealed that consuming alcohol can increase a person’s likelihood of having sleep apnea. Reducing how much alcohol you consume can help reduce snoring and improve your sleep.
Changing Sleeping Positions
Try sleeping on your side, instead of your back. When you sleep on your back, it allows the soft palate and tongue to block your airway. Rolling to your side can prevent this.
CPAP Therapy
Using a CPAP machine can reduce or eliminate snoring. A CPAP machine uses positive air pressure to keep your airways open. It also prevents vibrations that cause snoring. In fact, CPAP therapy often improves breathing quickly, which results in a decrease in snoring, especially if it is associated with sleep apnea.
Are you ready to stop snoring? Order your CPAP machine and equipment from The CPAP Shop. Our helpful staff is always available to help you find the equipment and supplies you need! Give us a call at 866-414-9700.
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References
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Cleveland Clinic. (2023, May 11). Snoring: Causes, remedies & prevention. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15580-snoring Cleveland Clinic
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American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Is it more than a snore? Recognizing sleep apnea warning signs. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://aasm.org/is-it-more-than-a-snore-recognizing-sleep-apnea-warning-signs/ AASM
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American Sinus Institute. How snoring can affect your health. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://www.americansinus.com/blog/how-snoring-can-affect-your-health American Sinus Institute
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Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017, December 22). Snoring – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/snoring/symptoms-causes/syc-20377694 Mayo Clinic
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Smith-Garcia, D. (Writer); Varma, A. Varma (Medically reviewed). (2025, August 15). Does alcohol cause snoring? Healthline. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep/alcohol-and-snoring#sleep-apnea
