Final answer:
The annoying sound made while sleeping is known as snoring, which can be a sign of sleep apnea, a disorder involving breathing pauses due to blocked airways. Sleep apnea affects both adults and infants and has serious health implications if not treated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The annoying sound that people sometimes make when they breathe while sleeping is known as snoring. Snoring can be a symptom of a potentially serious health condition called sleep apnea. This chronic disorder is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep due to a physical blockage of airflow, leading to disrupted sleep and other health issues. People with sleep apnea often do not remember these awakenings because they do not wake up fully. Sleep apnea can have significant consequences, including daytime fatigue, irritability, memory problems, and morning headaches. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea, is often caused by excessive relaxation of the throat muscles or by excess tissue in the neck, which can narrow the airway and impede breathing.
It's important to recognize that sleep apnea doesn't just affect adults; infants can also suffer from this disorder, which can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SID). For both adults and children with sleep apnea, treatments are available, including lifestyle changes, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, and sometimes surgery. If snoring is loud and chronic, it's advisable to seek medical advice, as it may indicate the presence of sleep apnea.