During a lunch break at the office, a colleague, Xiao Zhang, fell asleep at his desk, and his loud snoring disturbed the rest of the team. Many people might wonder: why is it that some people snore so loudly, yet they can't hear it themselves and continue to sleep soundly?
This happens because snoring typically occurs during deep sleep, a phase when the body is in a very restful state. In deep sleep, it’s difficult to hear any sounds, including your own snoring. Additionally, people who snore regularly tend to become less sensitive to the sound of their snoring over time, almost “blocking it out” without consciously noticing it. While some people claim to wake up because of their own snoring, they are more likely waking up due to difficulty breathing, rather than the sound itself.
Many people think that snoring means they are sleeping deeply and soundly—the louder the snore, the better the sleep. However, snoring is actually a sign of poor airflow. When air flows through the throat, it causes the soft tissues in the throat to vibrate, producing the snoring sound. If someone's snoring is loud, it indicates that their airways have significant resistance, which can lead to oxygen deprivation and cause them to wake up frequently, leaving them tired during the day.
Some snorers report feeling like something is choking their throat, struggling to breathe and gasping for air during the night. This is likely due to sleep apnea, where breathing temporarily stops during sleep. Sleep apnea caused by snoring can be very dangerous. Mild symptoms include dry mouth, headaches, fatigue, daytime drowsiness, and memory problems. More severe cases can lead to low blood oxygen levels and damage multiple body systems. According to the World Health Organization, snoring is linked to about 4,000 deaths worldwide every day.
If you snore frequently at night and wake up feeling tired, sluggish, or with a dry throat and headache, it might be a sign of sleep apnea syndrome. If possible, try recording your sleep with your phone to check if you breathe through your mouth or snore loudly. If both are true, it's important to consult a doctor for evaluation and treatment.
