Snoring and sleep apnea get confused all the time. Plenty of people snore without a health problem, and some people with sleep apnea don’t realize they have it. Here’s how to tell the difference, and what to do next.
The short answer
Snoring is noise. Sleep apnea is breathing that stops. When you snore, air still moves in and out, even if it’s loud. With obstructive sleep apnea, the airway closes off again and again during the night, breathing pauses, and your brain briefly wakes you to start it again. Loud snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, but only a sleep study can tell the two apart.
| Simple snoring | Obstructive sleep apnea | |
|---|---|---|
| Breathing during sleep | Continues, with a vibrating sound | Pauses repeatedly, often ending in a gasp or snort |
| How you feel during the day | Usually rested | Often tired, foggy, or headachy in the morning |
| Health concern | Mostly a sleep problem for your partner | A medical condition linked to heart and blood pressure problems |
| How it’s confirmed | No test needed | A home or in-lab sleep study |
What “just snoring” actually is
Snoring is the sound of soft tissues in your throat vibrating as air passes through a narrowed airway. It can be loud, but if your airway stays open and you keep breathing normally through the night, it’s just noise, not a medical issue (apart from your partner’s sleep).
What sleep apnea is
Sleep apnea, specifically obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is when your airway repeatedly closes off completely during sleep. Each closure blocks breathing for 10 seconds to over a minute, dropping oxygen levels in your blood, until your brain briefly wakes you to restart breathing.
People with severe sleep apnea can have hundreds of these events per night without realizing it. The brain wakes just enough to restart breathing, not enough to remember.
Why it matters
Untreated sleep apnea is linked to serious health problems, including:
- Higher risk of high blood pressure
- Higher risk of heart disease and stroke
- Links to type 2 diabetes
- Mood changes, including depression and anxiety
- Drowsy driving and a higher risk of accidents
- Significant impact on relationships, work, and quality of life
Signs it might be more than snoring
What your bed partner sees
- Pauses in breathing, sometimes long, often startling
- Snoring that abruptly stops, then resumes with a gasp or snort
- Restless sleep: kicking, tossing, repositioning
- Wakes up choking or gasping
What you experience
- Persistent daytime fatigue, no matter how many hours you sleep
- Falling asleep during meetings, while reading, or while watching TV
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking
- Brain fog, memory problems, difficulty concentrating
- Irritability or mood changes
- Decreased interest in things you used to enjoy
- Frequent nighttime urination (yes, really: common with apnea)
Risk factors
- Being overweight (the single biggest risk factor)
- Being male
- Being over 40
- Having a thicker neck circumference
- Family history of sleep apnea
- Smoking or heavy alcohol use
- Being post-menopausal (for women)
- Having a small jaw or recessed chin
Important: thin and fit people can still have sleep apnea, particularly if jaw structure plays a role.
What to do if you suspect it
1. Take a screening questionnaire
The STOP-BANG questionnaire is a simple 8-question screening tool used by sleep specialists. A higher score suggests a higher risk and is a good reason to talk with your doctor.
2. Get a sleep study
This is the only way to definitively diagnose sleep apnea. Options include:
- Home sleep test: most common; you wear a small device at home for 1-3 nights
- In-lab polysomnogram: overnight at a sleep center; more comprehensive
Many medical insurance plans cover sleep testing. Check with your plan before you schedule.
3. Discuss treatment options
If you’re diagnosed, you’ll have options:
- CPAP (most common; gold standard for moderate-to-severe apnea)
- Custom oral appliance (mild-to-moderate apnea, or CPAP-intolerant patients)
- Lifestyle changes (weight loss, sleep position, alcohol reduction)
- Surgery (rarely: for specific anatomical issues)
Where dentists fit in
At A Smile By Design, Dr. Vogler makes custom oral appliances for patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate apnea or those who can’t tolerate CPAP. We work in partnership with your physician and your sleep study results.
Bottom line
Don’t assume loud snoring is just an annoyance. If your partner sees pauses or gasps, or if you’re always tired no matter how much you sleep, get evaluated. The treatments work, and the health benefits of treating apnea are significant.
To discuss oral appliance therapy or get a referral for a sleep study, call (585) 335-2120 or request an appointment. Learn more about sleep apnea treatment in Dansville and how insurance and payment work at our office.