Snoring is such an ordinary part of people’s lives that it’s easy to become complacent about it.  But is it just a harmless part of the sleep soundscape, or does all that “sound and fury” signify something?
 
It’s estimated that almost 60% of men, 40% of women, and more than 25% of children snore.  As a person relaxes during sleep, the muscles in the throat loosen and narrow the airway.  Then, when the person breaths, it causes the limp tissue to flutter like a flag in the wind, generating the familiar rattling sounds of snoring.
 
Things that can increase the likelihood of snoring include:
 
Nasal congestion or obstruction - Having allergies, nasal polyps, or a deviated septum can limit the amount of air that’s able to flow through the nose.  (A deviated septum occurs when the thin cartilage divider between the nasal passages is off-center or crooked.  That makes one of the passages smaller and harder to breathe through.)
 
Challenging anatomy - The size and shape of muscles and tissues in the neck can impact snoring.  Some people just have large tonsils, tongues, or soft palates (That’s the muscular part at the back of the roof of the mouth.  It sits behind the hard palate, which is the bony part of the roof of the mouth.)  These anatomical structures can all block airflow.  Additionally, the size and location of the jaw can cause the tongue to collapse backward, also blocking the airway.

Alcohol consumption or use of sedative medications - These both cause muscles to relax, including the muscles of the mouth, jaw, and throat.  Alcohol also causes nasal irritation and throat dryness.  This increases airway resistance and makes breathing more difficult.
 
Pregnancy - Changes in pregnancy contribute to snoring in a couple of ways.  First, the amount of blood in a pregnant person’s body increases, causing blood vessels to expand and nasal passages to become swollen.  Secondly, weight gain increases the tissue in the throat and neck and narrows the upper airway.
 
Being overweight can cause snoring for anyone, not just pregnant people.  It’s easy to see where adipose tissue (fat) is located when it’s stored near the outside of our bodies.  However, it’s also deposited on the inside of our bodies:  around our internal organs and inside our neck and throat.   This increases the amount of soft tissue and crowds breathing passages, reducing the amount of air that can get through.
 
Snoring can be no problem at all, a minor irritation, or a major issue, depending on its type, severity, and frequency.

• Soft, sporadic snoring is normal and doesn’t require any intervention (as long as it’s not bothering your bed partner.)

• Primary snoring happens more than 3 nights a week.  It can be more disruptive to a bed partner but isn’t cause for concern unless there are signs that sleep quality or quantity is being diminished. (see below)

• Sleep Apnea snoring is loud!  There are moments when breathing stops followed by gasps for air.  These signal a serious (and potentially deadly) sleep disorder.  Also watch for:

                        Daytime drowsiness

                        High blood pressure

                        Nighttime teeth grinding

                        Frequent nighttime urination

                        Difficulty focusing/brain fog

                        Waking with a dry mouth

                        Morning headaches and congestion

 
While not everyone that snores has sleep apnea, almost everyone that has sleep apnea snores.  

Snoring can be no problem at all, a minor irritation, or a major issue, depending on its type, severity, and frequency. Soft, sporadic snoring is normal and doesn’t require any intervention (as long as it’s not bothering your bed partner.) Primary snoring happens more than 3 nights a week.  It can be more disruptive to a bed partner but isn’t cause for concern unless there are signs that sleep quality or quantity is being diminished. (see below) Sleep Apnea snoring is loud!  There are moments when breathing stops followed by gasps for air.  These signal a serious (and potentially deadly) sleep disorder.  Also watch for:                         Daytime drowsiness                         High blood pressure                         Nighttime teeth grinding                         Frequent nighttime urination                         Difficulty focusing/brain fog                         Waking with a dry mouth                         Morning headaches and congestion   While not everyone that snores has sleep apnea, almost everyone that has sleep apnea snores.

Sleep apnea shouldn’t be taken lightly!    It’s a serious medical condition with potentially deadly complications, such as: Daytime fatigue.  Having sleep disturbed dozens, or even hundreds, of times a night makes normal, restorative sleep impossible.  This, in turn, makes severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue, and irritability much more likely.   Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.   Having sleep apnea increases the risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.  Metabolic syndrome is a combination of high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, and an increased waist circumference.  People with this syndrome have a higher risk of heart disease.   High blood pressure or heart problems.  When someone repeatedly stops breathing, it can cause sudden drops in blood oxygen levels.  This increases blood pressure and strains the whole cardiovascular system. Obstructive sleep apnea can also increase the risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke, and abnormal heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation. If someone already has heart disease, repeated bouts of low blood oxygen can lead to sudden death from an irregular heartbeat.   Complications with surgery.   People with sleep apnea can be more likely to have complications with major surgery.  They’re already prone to breathing problems, and then they’re sedated and lying on their backs, both of which make sleep apnea worse.  Before you have surgery, tell your doctor about your sleep apnea and how it's being treated.   Liver problems.  People with sleep apnea are more likely to have abnormal results on tests of liver function, and their livers are more likely to have scarring (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease).   Sleep-deprived partners.   Sleep apnea doesn't just impact the person snoring.  It prevents anyone sleeping nearby from getting the sleep that they need to protect their own health.