Snoring.
That sound that ranges from a low buzz to a sleep-breaking chainsaw is very common among children as well as adults. When snoring is combined with periods of not breathing it is called sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA, occurs when your breathing airways are collapsed or blocked during sleep. Snoring is the sound produced when air passes through this blockage. Most people don't know they have OSA unless a spouse, family member or friend informs them they looked like they stopped breathing when they slept or may complain about the loudness of their snoring.
Other symptoms of OSA include daytime somnolence or falling asleep in the daytime e.g. at work, school or just sitting in a quiet area for a couple of minutes. Others may even fall asleep while talking with another person! In children, a sign of OSA may be bedwetting.
OSA is more common in persons who are overweight and in children with large tonsils. Untreated OSA can increase risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, diabetes and heart failure. There is also an increased risk of work and car accidents.
OSA is diagnosed by symptoms and sometimes by an exam called a sleep study. It is a chronic condition that can be managed with lifestyle changes e.g weight loss, mouth guards, breathing devices and/or surgery.
Source: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Sleep Disorders
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