Difference between Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Key difference: Snoring is the hoarse sound that is caused by partial obstruction of breath in some way while sleeping, whereas ‘sleep apnea’ is caused by the temporary stoppage or suspension of breath for few seconds due to the complete obstruction of air passage. Snoring is an abnormal sound whereas apnea is a sleep disorder.

Snoring is the sound one hears when a snorer inhales during sleep. This noise occurs when the soft tissues at the back of the throat, the muscles that line the airway, and the tongue muscles relax al-together, which cause the airway to narrow. As the air passes through this narrow airway, it moves faster and causes the tissues to vibrate against each other to produce a rattling or snoring sound.

Sleep apnea, on the other hand, is characterized by abnormal pauses in breathing or abnormally low breathing during sleep. This disorder can occur due to a lack of respiratory effort or due to a physical blockage to airflow, or a combination of both. Here, during sleep, the soft tissues and muscles in the throat relax and the tongue falls back on the airway tract, causing the air to stop and the breathing. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type of apnea.

Snoring and sleep apnea are inter-related to each other. Snoring is an alarming symptom indicating that a person might be suffering from sleep apnea, but not all snorers suffer from sleep apnea. This is because snoring is caused due to blockage in the air passage due to various reasons such as nasal obstruction due to polyp, septum deviation; weakness in throat muscle, fat deposition around the throat; drinking alcohol; certain drugs such as sedatives that induce sleep; sleeping positions.

Sleep apnea, on the other hand, is a recurring cycle that appears when a person is asleep. It is a temporary 10 second lasting condition at alerts the person to wake up after the oxygen levels in the brain have depleted considerably. This is a continuous cycle where the person wakes up, breathes normally, cycle reverses and then the person falls asleep. Also, he or she often makes a gasping sound when airway reopens. Most people with sleep apnea snore loudly with periods of silence when airflow is reduced or blocked.

Both, snoring and sleep apnea are treatable causes. Though, the treatment options for snoring or sleep apnea patients vary from conservative treatment to massive surgical treatments. Now, based on the above explanations one can understand and differentiate between snoring and sleep apnea symptoms, causes and treatment procedures through the given table below.

Comparison between Snoring and Sleep Apnea:

 

Snoring

Sleep Apnea

Definition

It is defined as a horse sound that is caused by partial obstruction of breath in some way while sleeping.

It is caused by the temporary stoppage or suspension of breath for few seconds due to the complete obstruction of air passage.

It is

It is an abnormal sound.

It is a sleep disorder.

Cause

  • It is caused due to airway obstruction.
  • It causes partial obstruction.
  • It cause shortness of breathe.  
  • It is caused due to respiratory condition.
  • It causes complete obstruction.
  • There is gasping of breathe.

Relation

It is a symptom of sleep apnea.

Not all snoring patients suffer from sleep apnea.

Reason

The reasons for snoring:

Obesity

  • Septum deviation
  • Mal-positioned jaw
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Taking drugs
  • Sleep positions

The reasons for sleep apnea:

  • Excessive narrowing of throat and
  • Presence of disease

Symptoms

The symptoms of snoring are:

  • Sore throat
  • Headaches
  • Dry mouth upon waking

The symptoms of sleep apnea are:

  • Excessive sleepiness during the day
  • Discontinuous sleep at night
  • Anxiety
  • Depression 
  • Inability to concentrate Irritation
  • Forgetfulness
  • Mood or behavior changes Morning headaches
  • Decreased interest in love-making.

May lead to

It may lead to:

  • Carotid artery atherosclerosis
  • Brain damage
  • Stroke

It may lead to:

  • Heart attacks
  • Death
  • Suffocation

Treatment

It can be treated by:

  • Weight loss
  • Avoid alcohol and smoking
  • Avoid sedatives
  • Changing sleep positions to sides

It can be treated by:

  • The use of continuous positive airway pressure mask when a person sleeps. 
  • Surgery that includes removal of excessive tissues, jaw realignment, or tracheotomy placement depending on the severity of the apnea condition.

Image Courtesy: wholehealthdentalcenter.com, cbnbaggage.wordpress.com

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