The loudness and the tone of the noise is affected by how much air is going though the breathing passage and how fast the throat tissue is vibrating. Not all breathing noise during sleep is snoring. A high-pitched sound or a barking noise may mean that the source of the noise is near the voice box or the larynx. If these noises come on suddenly, continue after a person has awakened, or if there is shortness of breath, then this is not simply snoring. Anyone with these symptoms should seek medical attention.
All medical conditions produce symptoms.
But a given symptom may be caused by a variety of illnesses. In the case of snoring, it may occur as a symptom of a variety of illnesses ranging from the common cold to sleep apnea . It may be accompanied by other symptoms or the symptom may occur in isolation. Snoring represents abnormal breathing during sleep. When this space is reduced, the soft and collapsible tissues of the throat may come into contact with each other and vibrate as air is drawn between them.