Snoring might seem like the product of irritated sinuses, growing older, or weight gain. But many snorers actually suffer from a medical condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea ranges from annoying to potentially life-threatening. Some symptoms of sleep apnea include:
Loud and persistent snoring
Waking up choking or unable to breathe
Frequently waking during the night for no clear reason
Feeling exhausted even though you think you got enough sleep
Needing much more sleep than you used to
Headaches in the morning
Bad quality sleep
Brain fog, mood changes, or shifts in libido
Difficulty falling asleep
Sleep apnea causes brief pauses in breathing at night. The snoring you hear is actually gasping for air, often due to a blockage in the throat or nose.