Yep! This is a thing, and rightly so, as snoring affects up to a quarter of the population. It can be a real pain when you want to sleep, but all you can hear is your housemate happily snoring away! But it’s not just the people sharing the bed, house or street that suffer when someone snores, it can also really affect the snorers quality of life.
National Stop Snoring Week 2015
Each year during their National Stop Snoring Week, the British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association discuss one topic in detail. This year they are debating whether snoring is down to your genes. There are many factors that influence snoring and sleep apnoea. Some are acquired, but others may be inherited. Snoring can be related to genetic things like obesity, head and facial shape and upper airway anatomy etc. Research has shown you are up to 3 times more likely to snore if you have a family history of snoring.
Why does it matter?
Snoring can actually sometimes be a sign of a more serious condition, called obstructive sleep apnoea. Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when a person’s airways are repeatedly blocked, either totally or partially during the night. Signs of this can be waking up choking, excessively loud snoring, and repeated short periods where breathing is interrupted by gasping or snorting. This can have adverse affects on day-to-day life due to inadequate rest, leading to poor concentration, irritability and more serious conditions including depression and erectile dysfunction.
How can I stop snoring?
Snoring can affect anyone; and we know that the shape of your head and face are factors that you have little control over! However, statistically people who are over-weight or obese, smoke or are heavy drinkers are all more likely to snore. Therefore lifestyle changes like switching to a healthier diet and taking on a good exercise regime that promotes weight loss can help reduce your snoring. Quitting smoking or cutting down on alcohol consumption can also help. There are even a large variety of off-the-shelf treatments available, but you should always seek the advice of a medical professional first. To find out what kind of snorer you are, and what you can do to help stop, take this Interactive Snore Test!
So there you are! There’s more to snoring than you thought. Do you know someone who snores? Keep an eye out to see what the British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association get up to this year, and keep your fellow snorers in the loop.
Sweet Dreams!
