Snoring is one of the most common aspects of SDB and has been described throughout history.
In the past, snoring generally had been considered a social nuisance without any consequence to the snorer—only to the suffering bed partner.

After sleep apnea syndrome was recognized, snoring began being viewed in a new light—as an important clinical symptom. Although it is by far the most common symptom of sleep apnea and is usually the main reason for a patient visit, not all patients who snore have sleep apnea.

Many nonapneic snorers present with a constellation of signs and symptoms similar to those found in OSAHS, including daytime somnolence, tiredness, difficulty with concentration, headaches, and reduced work performance.

Therefore, separating the effect of primary snoring from apnea is difficult because both conditions are linked closely.