Does my snoring mean that I have obstructive sleep apnea?

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  1. Most people who have obstructive sleep apnea snore. However, snoring by itself does not necessarily mean that you have obstructive sleep apnea or other sleep disorder. Your snoring may be caused by other factors. However, if you snore and feel fatigued during the day, talk to your doctor. If you do have sleep apnea, it should be treated.

    Most people who have obstructive sleep apnea snore. However, snoring by itself does not necessarily mean that you have obstructive sleep apnea or other sleep disorder. Your snoring may be caused by other factors. However, if you snore and feel... More
  2. Dr. Stephen Black
     
    Dr. Stephen Black answered:

    Not necessarily. Snoring is the noise that is created when you are breathing and air is flowing past the soft palate and back of the throat area causing vibrations in the tissue. If the airway gets completely blocked, air doesn't get into the lungs and you have a moment when you stop breathing - this is sleep apnea. The number of these incidences determines the severity of the sleep apnea. So, you can have snoring without sleep apnea but if you have sleep apnea, you usually have a snoring problem.

    More Related Answers from Dr. Stephen Black
    Not necessarily. Snoring is the noise that is created when you are breathing and air is flowing past the soft palate and back of the throat area causing vibrations in the tissue. If the airway gets completely blocked, air doesn't get into the lungs... More
  3. Dr. Craig Schwimmer
     
    No. Snoring is far more common than sleep apnea. But loud, habitual snoring is the hallmark of sleep apnea, so if someone snores regularly and has any symptoms of sleep apnea (poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches), or suffers from high blood pressure, weight gain or erectile dysfunction, they should be evaluated.
    More Related Answers from Dr. Craig Schwimmer
    No. Snoring is far more common than sleep apnea. But loud, habitual snoring is the hallmark of sleep apnea, so if someone snores regularly and has any symptoms of sleep apnea (poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches), or suffers... More