Does snoring cause sleep apnea?

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops more than for 10 seconds during sleep. During sleep, the throat muscles relax more than normal, narrowing or completely blocking the airway. This temporarily stops the person from breathing.

What Causes Snoring?

Snoring is the sound produced by the vibration of soft tissues in the throat and nose while breathing during sleep. This obstruction can be caused by factors such as relaxed muscles in the upper airways, nasal congestion due to colds and allergies, nasal bone deformities, swelling of structures inside the nose known as turbinates, obesity, alcohol and sedative use, or sleep position.

Does Sleep Apnea Cause Snoring?

Snoring is not normal and is a symptom of sleep apnea. It is known that 70-95% of people with sleep apnea snore. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is found in 20-50% of people who snore.