Is It Snoring or Sleep Apnoea?
In April, the focus is on disturbed sleep as the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association (BSSAA) hopes to raise awareness of snoring and the more serious condition it can sometimes signal: obstructive sleep apnoea. The evidence suggests that both are far more common than most people realise.
How common is the problem?
Snoring affects an estimated 15 million adults in the UK. For many, it is a nuisance; for partners, often a bigger one. But snoring exists on a spectrum, and at the more serious end sits obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) – a condition in which the airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing breathing to stop and restart, sometimes hundreds of times a night.
A 2026 study estimated that OSA affects approximately 4.8% of the UK population. Furthermore, most individuals with OSA in the UK are undiagnosed, and research from Imperial College London published in 2024 suggests up to 85% of those with moderate to severe OSA have not received a diagnosis. Many are simply living with the symptoms, attributing them to tiredness, stress, or getting older.
Snoring vs sleep apnoea
Simple snoring occurs when airflow through the nose and throat causes the surrounding tissues to vibrate during sleep. It can be loud and disruptive, but breathing itself is not interrupted. In obstructive sleep apnoea, the airway narrows or closes completely. The brain registers the drop in oxygen, jolts the body partially awake to restore breathing, and the cycle repeats throughout the night – without the person being aware of it.
The warning signs that suggest snoring may have crossed into sleep apnoea territory include waking with a dry mouth or sore throat, morning headaches, unexplained daytime fatigue regardless of how many hours you have slept, difficulty concentrating, and episodes witnessed by a bed partner in which you appear to stop breathing.
OSA is also associated with a significantly increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes if left unmanaged, making early diagnosis genuinely important.
Nasal issues that contribute
The airway is a single continuous structure, and what happens in the nose directly affects what happens farther down during sleep. Breathing through the nose is ideal during sleep, helping to regulate airflow, humidify incoming air, and reduce pressure on the airway. But if the nasal passages are narrow or blocked, the body compensates by breathing through the mouth, which increases the likelihood of airway vibration and collapse.
Common causes of nasal obstruction that contribute to snoring and sleep-disordered breathing include:
- A deviated nasal septum – when the cartilage dividing the nostrils is misaligned
- Swollen turbinates – the small structures inside the nose responsible for filtering and humidifying air
- Nasal polyps – soft, non-cancerous growths that develop from chronic inflammation
- Weak or collapsing nasal valves
- Previous injury or trauma to the nose
For many patients, restoring proper nasal airflow produces a meaningful improvement in both snoring and sleep quality.
How can The Harley Street ENT Clinic help?
At The Harley Street ENT Clinic, we offer a full range of nasal snoring treatment options, from non-invasive therapies to advanced surgical solutions, all tailored to your individual needs. A proper diagnosis is the essential first step.
Where a structural issue in the nose is the primary driver, options include septoplasty to correct a deviated septum, turbinate reduction, or Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) – a minimally invasive procedure performed through the nostrils using an endoscope, which aims to remove blockages, restore normal sinus function, and alleviate the chronic obstruction that disrupts sleep. For patients whose snoring originates farther back in the throat, palatal procedures can be considered to address soft-tissue vibration.
If sleep apnoea is suspected, we can arrange a sleep-disordered breathing assessment before recommending the most appropriate course of treatment.
If your snoring is affecting your sleep or your partner’s, or if you are waking unrefreshed despite adequate hours in bed, it is worth discussing with an ENT specialist. The solution may be simpler than you expect, and for some patients it can be genuinely life-changing.
To arrange a consultation at The Harley Street ENT Clinic, please contact our team.