Obstructive sleep apnea and snoring (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea and it occurs when your throat muscles relax while you’re asleep, narrowing or closing your airway. This causes your lungs to work harder to breathe and may cause you to gasp or snore. The repeated reductions and pauses in breathing can reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood and may increase your risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, depression, obesity, irritability, and trouble driving or working on dangerous tasks.

The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Snoring: What You Should Know

Loud snoring is often the first sign of OSA, but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. You should talk to your doctor if you have loud, disruptive snoring or any other symptoms of sleep apnea, such as being extremely tired throughout the day even after getting enough sleep, waking up with headaches, or feeling nervous or restless.

The most important thing is to prevent your throat from narrowing or blocking while you’re sleeping. This includes losing weight, not smoking or using alcohol before going to bed, and treating any allergies or sinus problems you have. A mouthguard or device that keeps your jaw forward — such as a mandibular advancement splint, or MAS — is also helpful. These devices have been shown to help with OSA and can be comfortable if fitted correctly.