Snoring is one of the main signs of sleep apnea, which is interrupted by periods of silence when breathing stops. People with sleep apnea are often unaware of their snoring but may be aware of waking up gasping for breath intermittently throughout the night. The sleep partners of people with OSA are usually quite aware of the signs, since the snoring, gasping, and choking can be quite loud. Although snoring is common in people with OSA, it is important to note both that snoring is not an indicator of OSA by itself — snorers do not necessarily have OSA — and also that people can have OSA without being snorers.
OSA can cause any of the following symptoms:[1][2]
- Waking up feeling tired or exhausted in spite of going to bed on time
- Extreme daytime sleepiness
- Feeling irritable, depressed, or anxious
- Problems with concentration and focus
- Impaired memory
- Dry mouth
- Frequently waking up during the night to urinate
- High blood pressure
- Morning headaches
- Chronic eyelid inflammation