Snoring does not mean sound sleep- Unlike popular belief, snoring does not mean sound sleep. Snoring while sleep could be a sign of serious disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea. Sometimes, snoring is loud enough to interfere the sleep of other people/spouse of the person. Snoring may be associated with poor sleep quality patient himself and others around him. Why do we snore? Whenever we sleep, muscles around the oral and nasal cavity would relax, leading to narrowing of airway. This lead to increase in airway resistance and turbulence of air flow while breathing. Those people who have snoring or sleep disorder breathing, already have narrow airway because of various predisposing conditions, which becomes still more narrow during sleep leading to increase turbulence of air while breathing and results in snoring/sleep disorder breathing. stand alone snoring does not require treatment as such unless and until it is causing disturbance for bed partner and others. However very often snoring is associated with sleep disorder breathing and symptoms such as gasping/ choking during sleep. At times bed partner and family members may notice a breathing pause (Witnessed apnea), all these signs may indicate towards sleep breathing disorder and require evaluation by sleep medicine expert. Jairam Respiratory Health Mission Dr Saket Sharma MD, DM (Pulmonary & critical care)