Snoring does not necessarily indicate sleep apnoea, but when it interferes with your sleep and accompanies other symptoms, it may be signaling a problem. It’s important to understand the difference between harmless snoring and a serious symptom.
Snoring is caused by collapsed airway tissue that partially obstructs breathing. The vibration of this tissue causes the characteristic sound, which varies in volume and intensity depending on a person’s anatomy and other factors.
Normal snoring does not affect your quality of life, but snoring associated with sleep apnoea can be damaging to your overall health. Frequent, disruptive snoring accompanied by pauses in breath or shallow breathing, fatigue, and restlessness may be indicators of sleep apnoea.
