Snoring occurs because the air a person inhales while sleeping vibrates as it passes the soft, relaxed tissues at the back of the throat. Adequate air flow that simply causes a vibration is simple snoring. But in some people, these tissues block the airway.
The position of the tongue is involved in causing sleep apnea as well. Because of anatomical problems, a person’s tongue may fall to the back of their throat, closing the airway. When soft throat tissues or the tongue obstruct the airway and cut off the air, then sleep apnea occurs.
With sleep apnea, the flow of air can be completely blocked for as short a time as ten seconds and for as long a time as two minutes. This cessation can occur again and again. Some people experience these blockages several times an hour and others have an episode every minute or so, all night long. In this case, the diagnosis would be severe sleep apnea. It is essential for a person with severe sleep apnea to get help immediately.