Dr. Manish Shah, a dentist from the Sydney Centre for Temporomandibular Joint Disorders and Sleep Disorders, confirms that snoring — whether loud or moderate — negatively affects the sleep of those who share a room with the snorer.
Shah says: "Those who sleep next to a snorer often have difficulty sleeping. Frequent snoring becomes a source of annoyance and anxiety, especially when it happens every night, leading many to wonder how the snorer can continue to sleep without waking up."
He explains that people who snore hear the sounds they make, but their brains filter them out as low-importance noise, as a result of the nervous system getting used to them over time.
He adds: "The brain prioritizes rest, so the body is not stimulated to wake up because of the sound of snoring, even if it is loud," noting that this process is known as "habituation," which prevents waking up because of familiar sounds.
In contrast, Shah points out that unusual sounds — such as a sudden bang in the kitchen or an unfamiliar movement nearby — are high-priority signals, prompting the brain to activate its defense mechanism and wake up immediately.
This explains why a person might wake up to faint, unexpected noises, while remaining unaffected by loud snoring.
Although a person who snores may appear to be sleeping uninterrupted, they may wake up for a few seconds and then quickly fall back asleep, without remembering it when they wake up in the morning.
Snoring isn't just a nighttime nuisance; in some cases, it can be a sign of a serious health problem. Dr. Shah points out that chronic snoring caused by an obstruction of the airway behind the mouth can be a symptom of sleep apnea.
This condition causes breathing to stop for periods ranging from 10 to 30 seconds, which leads to strain on the heart and an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes.
Shah concludes by emphasizing that occasional snoring is common and usually not a cause for concern, but frequent snoring that affects sleep quality and causes daytime sleepiness warrants a doctor's visit.
