What Is The Difference Between Sleep Apnea And Snoring?

Snoring is a sound caused by the vibration of tissues in the airway during sleep. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops or becomes significantly reduced during sleep. Therefore, snoring may be a symptom, while sleep apnea is a health condition that requires medical assessment.

Not every person who snores has sleep apnea. In simple snoring, the airway may narrow, but breathing can continue without significant drops in blood oxygen levels. In sleep apnea, the airway may temporarily close, breathing may stop, and oxygen levels may fall.

Loud snoring is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. However, sleep apnea cannot be diagnosed according to the intensity of snoring. Some people may snore very loudly without having sleep apnea, while others may have significant pauses in breathing with milder snoring.

This content is intended for general information. A definite distinction between snoring and sleep apnea should be made through medical assessment of symptoms and sleep test findings.

What Is Simple Snoring?

During simple snoring, tissues in the nose, soft palate, tongue base, or throat vibrate. The airway may be partially narrowed, but airflow generally continues. The person may not experience significant pauses in breathing or repeated oxygen drops.

Factors that may contribute to simple snoring include:

• Sleeping on the back
• Excess weight
• Alcohol consumption before bedtime
• Smoking
• Nasal obstruction
• Allergic rhinitis
• A cold
• A deviated nasal septum
• Enlarged tonsils
• A lower jaw positioned backward
• Sleep deprivation and severe fatigue
• Sleeping pills or sedatives

Snoring may occur occasionally or almost every night. Snoring caused by temporary nasal obstruction may improve when the obstruction resolves. However, the underlying cause should be assessed when snoring is regular or becomes increasingly severe.

Simple snoring may not always significantly affect the person’s own sleep quality. However, it may disturb the sleep of people sharing the same environment and cause tension in relationships and daytime fatigue.

What Happens In Sleep Apnea?

In obstructive sleep apnea, the upper airway repeatedly narrows or completely closes during sleep. When airflow decreases or stops, blood oxygen levels may fall. The brain may trigger brief awakening responses to restart breathing.

The person often does not remember these brief awakenings. However, when they occur repeatedly throughout the night, restorative sleep may be disrupted. The person may wake up tired despite sleeping for a sufficient amount of time and experience difficult-to-control daytime sleepiness.

Possible symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Loud and irregular snoring
• Long periods of silence after snoring
• Witnessed pauses in breathing during sleep
• A forceful and noisy breath after a period of silence
• Waking up choking or feeling short of breath
• Frequent nighttime awakenings
• Morning headaches
• Waking with a dry mouth
• Frequent nighttime urination
• Unrefreshing sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Attention and memory problems
• Irritability and changes in mood
• High blood pressure that is difficult to control

Not everyone with sleep apnea snores noticeably. People who sleep alone may be unaware of nighttime pauses in breathing and silent periods between episodes of snoring.

How Can You Tell Whether Snoring Is Sleep Apnea?

Snoring and sleep apnea cannot be distinguished only by the sound of snoring. The pattern of snoring, the presence of breathing interruptions, nighttime oxygen changes, and daytime symptoms should be assessed together.

A long period of silence during snoring followed by a forceful gasping breath is an important sign of possible sleep apnea. Pauses in breathing witnessed by a partner or family member may also support the assessment.

Snoring may be more likely to be related to sleep apnea when:

• Snoring occurs with pauses in breathing.
• The person wakes up choking during the night.
• Morning headaches are present.
• The person feels unrefreshed despite sufficient sleep.
• Unintentional daytime dozing occurs.
• The person feels sleepy while driving.
• Attention and memory problems are present.
• High blood pressure is present.
• The person has excess weight or a wide neck circumference.
• The person has previously experienced heart rhythm or metabolic problems.

One of these symptoms alone does not establish a diagnosis of sleep apnea. However, a sleep test may be needed when several symptoms occur together.

People with uncontrollable daytime sleepiness should avoid driving and hazardous tasks that require attention. Sleepiness may create a serious accident risk for both the person and others.

How Are Snoring And Sleep Apnea Assessed?

During the assessment, the frequency of snoring, sleep position, nighttime symptoms, daytime sleepiness, medication use, and accompanying health conditions are reviewed. The nose, throat, tonsils, tongue base, and jaw structure may also be examined.

A sleep test may be performed when sleep apnea is suspected. Depending on the scope of the Home Sleep Test, the following may be recorded:

• Airflow through the nose or mouth
• Chest and abdominal breathing movements
• Blood oxygen levels
• Heart rate
• Snoring
• Sleep position

These measurements may help assess the frequency of nighttime breathing interruptions and their effect on oxygen levels. The test result should be interpreted together with the person’s symptoms and medical history.

A Home Sleep Test may not be suitable for everyone. A comprehensive in-hospital sleep study may be required when another sleep disorder is suspected, the person has serious heart or lung disease, or the home test does not provide sufficient results.

Assessment should not be ended when the home test is normal but strong suspicion of sleep apnea continues. The physician may recommend a more detailed sleep study.

When Is Treatment Required?

Treatment for simple snoring is planned according to the underlying cause. Addressing factors such as excess weight, sleeping on the back, alcohol consumption, or nasal obstruction may reduce snoring in some people. However, lifestyle changes do not replace sleep apnea treatment.

Methods that may be considered for snoring include:

• Controlled weight management
• Positional treatment that supports side sleeping
• Treatment targeting the cause of nasal obstruction
• Custom-made oral appliances
• Limiting alcohol and tobacco use
• Establishing regular sleep habits
• Surgical assessment when anatomical narrowing is present

When sleep apnea is diagnosed, treatment is planned according to its severity, symptoms, and the person’s general health. Positive airway pressure devices, oral appliances, weight management, positional treatment, or surgical methods in selected people may be considered.

Reduced snoring should not be interpreted as complete resolution of sleep apnea. Breathing interruptions and oxygen drops may continue even when snoring is no longer noticeable. Treatment effectiveness may need to be assessed with a follow-up sleep test.

Plan Your Home Sleep Test With Happ Health

Snoring is a sound-related symptom, while sleep apnea may involve repeated reductions or pauses in breathing. These conditions cannot be distinguished solely from the sound produced at night. With the Happ Health Home Sleep Test service, offered with the assurance of Medical Park and Liv Hospital, breathing events and oxygen changes can be recorded in your own sleep environment.

The results may help determine whether snoring is related to sleep apnea and whether further assessment is required. A physician should evaluate the findings together with your symptoms and medical history.

With Happ Health’s Health Everywhere, For Everyone, Always. approach, you can take the first step toward assessing your sleep health in the comfort of your home.