Snoring vs. Sleep Apnea: When Is It a Problem?

Everyone snores occasionally—after a long day, after a glass of wine, or during allergy season. But when snoring becomes loud, nightly, or disruptive, it may be a sign of something more serious: sleep apnea.

As ENT specialists, we’re often asked: “Is my snoring normal, or is it dangerous?” The answer depends on the cause and symptoms accompanying it.

In this blog, we’ll help you understand the difference between harmless snoring and sleep apnea—and when it’s time to seek medical help.

What Causes Snoring?

Snoring happens when air flows through a narrowed airway, causing soft tissues in the throat to vibrate during sleep. Common causes include:

Nasal congestion (from allergies, colds, or a deviated septum)
Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
Being overweight
Sleeping on your back
Alcohol or sedative use before bed

Occasional snoring is typically harmless. But if it’s loud, nightly, or accompanied by gasping or choking, it could be a red flag for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts throughout the night. The most common type—obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—happens when the airway becomes blocked, usually by relaxed throat muscles or excess tissue.

Each pause in breathing can last 10–30 seconds or longer and may occur dozens or even hundreds of times per night, disrupting deep sleep and lowering oxygen levels.

Snoring vs. Sleep Apnea: Key Differences

Snoring	Sleep Apnea
No pauses in breathing	Frequent pauses or gasping for air
Occasional or positional	Happens most nights regardless of position
Often noticed by partner but not alarming	Loud, disruptive, sometimes followed by silence and choking
No impact on daily energy levels	Daytime fatigue, morning headaches, poor concentration
Usually harmless	Can lead to high blood pressure, heart problems, and other complications

Signs You Might Have Sleep Apnea

You should see a doctor if you or a loved one notice any of these symptoms:

Loud snoring with gasping, choking, or snorting
Pauses in breathing during sleep
Excessive daytime sleepiness or falling asleep unintentionally
Morning headaches
Trouble concentrating or memory issues
Irritability or mood changes
Dry mouth or sore throat in the morning

Children with sleep apnea may show signs like mouth breathing, bedwetting, hyperactivity, or poor school performance.

How an ENT Specialist Can Help

If you’re experiencing signs of sleep apnea, an ENT is well-equipped to evaluate your airway anatomy and identify any structural issues contributing to the problem, such as:

Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
Nasal obstruction or deviated septum
Swollen turbinates
Weak or floppy tissues in the throat or soft palate

Your evaluation may include:

A thorough head and neck exam
Nasal endoscopy
Sleep study referral (home sleep test or overnight lab test)
Imaging (if needed)

Once a diagnosis is made, we’ll help create a personalized treatment plan.

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition and the underlying cause. Options may include:

Lifestyle changes (weight loss, positional therapy, reducing alcohol)
CPAP therapy (a machine that keeps your airway open at night)
Oral appliances (for mild to moderate cases)
Surgery to remove or correct blockages (tonsils, adenoids, deviated septum, nasal polyps, etc.)
Inspire® therapy (a newer, implantable treatment for moderate to severe OSA in certain patients)

Final Thoughts

While snoring may seem like a harmless habit, it can be a symptom of something more serious. Sleep apnea is a medical condition that affects your sleep quality, your heart, and even your brain.

If you’re experiencing loud snoring, daytime exhaustion, or any signs of sleep apnea, don’t ignore it. An ENT evaluation is the first step toward better sleep—and better health.

Call us today 954-942-6868 and visit Dr.Lapco.com start sleeping (and breathing) better at night.