Is It Snoring or Sleep Apnea; Should I Be Worried?

Snoring is a common habit that can cause sleep disruption, frequent awakenings, promote respiratory disturbances, and bed partner displeasure. It is also a classic characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, distinction between the two (snoring and sleep apnea) may be difficult to identify without objective data through home or attended in-lab sleep studies. Often, snoring is inaptly minimized or dismissed by the patients and clinicians as a common characteristic that does not necessitate further evaluation or treatment in the absence of co-morbid conditions like daytime sleepiness, tiredness or insomnia. This chapter represents the cases of two women with symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, and further addresses necessary steps in evaluation and management.