Snoring: What It Is, Why It Happens & How to Know If It’s Sleep Apnea

Snoring Treatment for Adults in Fullerton, Los Alamitos, Orange County & Hawaii

Snoring is one of the most common sleep concerns among adults—and one of the most overlooked. While many people shrug it off as “just noise,” snoring can be a sign of something deeper, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Understanding what causes snoring and when to get tested can protect your health, improve your sleep, and restore peace at home.

What Is Snoring?

Snoring occurs when air cannot move smoothly through your upper airway during sleep. As airflow becomes partially blocked, the tissues in your throat vibrate, creating the familiar snoring sound. Snoring ranges from mild and infrequent to loud, nightly, and disruptive—and chronic snoring often signals a medical issue.

How Common Is Snoring in Adults?

Snoring is extremely common:

• About 40% of adult men and 20–25% of adult women snore regularly.

• Snoring becomes more common with age, weight gain, and hormonal changes (including pregnancy and menopause).

• Many people who snore have no idea unless someone tells them.

Even though it’s common, snoring is not “normal.” Persistent snoring deserves evaluation—especially if accompanied by gasping, choking, morning headaches, or daytime fatigue.

What Makes Snoring Worse?

Several factors increase airway narrowing at night:

1. Sleeping on Your Back

Gravity pulls the tongue and soft palate backward, making snoring more likely.

2. Nasal Congestion or Allergies

Blocked nasal passages force mouth breathing, which increases snoring.

3. Weight Gain

Extra tissue around the neck and airway can make breathing harder during sleep.

4. Alcohol or Sedatives

These relax throat muscles, worsening snoring and sometimes triggering apnea.

5. Enlarged Tonsils or Anatomy Issues

A narrow airway or large tonsils increases snoring in both adults and children.

6. Hormonal Changes

Pregnancy and menopause can increase airway collapsibility and worsen snoring.

When Snoring Might Be Sleep Apnea

Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep.

Red flags include:

• Loud snoring heard through walls

• Pauses in breathing

• Gasping, choking, or snorting awake

• Morning headaches

• Excessive daytime sleepiness

• Trouble concentrating

• High blood pressure

• Waking up to urinate more than 1x a night

• Mood changes such as anxiety or irritibility

  
  

If you live in Fullerton, Los Alamitos, Orange County, or Hawaii, a sleep evaluation with a board-certified sleep doctor like Dr. Valerie Cacho or Dr. Jess Wong can determine if your snoring is benign or related to sleep apnea.

How to Test for Sleep Apnea

Testing is simple and can often be done at home.

Home Sleep Test (HST)

A portable device you wear overnight. It measures airflow, oxygen levels, and breathing effort. Ideal for moderate–severe snoring or suspected OSA.

In-Lab Sleep Study (Polysomnogram)

A comprehensive overnight test that evaluates brain waves, airflow, limb movements, heart rhythm, and more. Recommended for complex sleep issues or when HST results are unclear.

After testing, your sleep doctor will explain your results and guide you toward the right treatment.

Treatment Options for Snoring & Sleep Apnea

Snoring treatment depends on the cause, but effective options include:

Lifestyle Changes

• Weight optimization

• Avoiding alcohol 3–4 hours before bed

• Treating allergies

• Side-sleeping strategies

Oral Appliance Therapy

Custom dental devices reposition the jaw to open the airway—ideal for snoring and mild sleep apnea.

CPAP Therapy

The gold standard for moderate–severe OSA. Modern CPAP devices are smaller, quieter, and far more comfortable than older models.

Positional Therapy

Devices that help you stay off your back during sleep.

Nasal Treatments

For nasal obstruction, treatments may include nasal sprays, allergy therapy, or consultation with ENT specialists.

Integrative Sleep Medicine Approaches

Breathing exercises, myofunctional therapy, stress reduction tools, and sleep hygiene optimization.

Get Help for Snoring Today

Snoring shouldn’t be ignored—especially if it’s loud, nightly, or accompanied by fatigue. If you’re in Hawaii or Orange County (including Fullerton and Los Alamitos), Dr. Valerie Cacho and Dr. Jess Wong Sleep Life Med offers integrative, patient-centered evaluation and treatment to help you breathe—and sleep—better.

To schedule a consultation or learn more about snoring and sleep apnea testing, click here to contact Sleep Life Med today.