Snoring and Sleep Apnoea: When to Take It Seriously
Snoring is often treated as a family joke. But there is a kind of snoring that comes with pauses in breathing, and that is worth having seen by a doctor.
But · 5 min read · Sep 5, 2026
When you sleep, the muscles around your throat relax. The airway narrows, and the air passing through makes the soft tissue vibrate, producing the sound of snoring. A great many people snore, especially when tired, when lying on their back, or after drinking alcohol.
Most snoring is only a nuisance for the person lying beside you. But in some people the airway does not merely narrow — it becomes blocked from time to time, so breathing stops for a few seconds and then starts again. That condition is called sleep apnoea.
Why it is worth paying attention to
Each time the airway is blocked, the body has to wake very briefly to open it again. You do not remember these awakenings, but your sleep is broken into fragments all night long. That is why many people spend enough hours in bed and still wake up feeling as though they have not slept.
Sleep apnoea over a long period is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and blood sugar problems. The encouraging part is that this is a condition that can be diagnosed and treated.
Common signs
- Loud, interrupted snoring, with family members witnessing silences followed by a sharp gasp
- Waking up feeling suffocated or choking, or with a dry mouth and a sore throat in the morning
- A headache on waking
- Heavy daytime sleepiness, dozing off while sitting still, while watching television or while driving
- Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, irritability
- Passing urine several times a night with no explanation
Who is more likely to have it
The risk is higher in people who are overweight, who have a short thick neck, in men, in older people, and in people with large tonsils, a small jaw or long-standing nasal congestion. Alcohol and sedatives relax the throat muscles further, so they usually make the condition worse.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if someone has witnessed pauses in your breathing, if you are excessively sleepy during the day despite spending enough hours in bed, or if loud snoring comes with high blood pressure that is hard to control. Dozing off while driving is a sign to be seen soon — do not put it off.
A respiratory or ear, nose and throat specialist will ask about your history and may suggest a sleep study for assessment. The choice of treatment is the doctor's to make once the results are in.
This article is only here to help you recognise the signs and know when to be seen; it does not replace advice from your doctor.
This information is for general reference only and does not replace advice from your doctor.
