Snoring is a major symptom of obstructive
sleep apnea (OSA). But even though most people who have
sleep apnea snore, not all people who snore have sleep apnea.
Snoring occurs when the flow of air from the mouth or nose to the
lungs is disturbed during sleep, usually by a blockage or narrowing in the
nose, mouth, or throat (airway).
If you are overweight, you may have more tissue in your neck, which
can press down on the airway at night and block some of the airflow. Although
your breathing does not stop, your breaths may be smaller, so the oxygen levels
in your blood may go down. You may snore loudly and sleep badly.