Snoring Can Damage Relationships

Many snorers have tried everything they can think of to try and prevent them from snoring. As a new anti-snoring device is launched, we can take a look at a nocturnal problem that can ruin more than just sleep; it can also ruin relationships and people's lives.

If you ever wake up feeling tired and grumpy, feeling that you could sleep for days, then you are most probably married to a snorer. New research reveals that partners of snorers do not just miss out on a couple of hours of sleep a night. But over the average life course of a marriage, two years of sleep can be lost! The British Snoring and Sleep Apnea Association revealed that 15 million Britons (34% of the population) suffer from a snoring partner. Out of 1,000 of the partners of snorers who were interviewed, more than 8 out of 10 said that snoring was damaging their relationship, as well as their sex life.

Marianne Davey, Association co-founder said: "Our survey reveals that snoring has a disastrous effect on people's lives - both the snorers and their partners - affecting relationships, sex lives and sometimes their jobs if people are sleep-deprived and find it hard coping at work during the day. The condition's far from the joke it's sometimes made out to be."

According to studies, around three quarters of snorers are male. Davey said that the typical snorer can be described as: "a middle-aged, overweight man who drinks and smokes. It's a sad fact that snoring is often a result of over-indulgence in life's pleasures."

Dr John Shneerson, director of Britain's largest sleep clinic at Papworth hospital in Cambridge, England, said that for a small number of snorers the condition can be life-threatening. He said: "Snoring's normally a noise problem and a social nuisance, but for around 5% of people it can be a potentially dangerous condition.It may be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea - where someone literally stops breathing for around 10-second intervals regularly throughout the night. This causes severe lack of oxygen and forces the body to continually wake up to kick start breathing again.This can lead to raised blood pressure and leave people at increased risk of strokes and heart attacks. It needs medical treatment."

In the 1993 Guinness Book of Records, one recorded snore was 93 decibels, which is almost two thirds the noise of a Boeing 747 when it is taking off! Studies have shown that men tend to snore louder than women. Up to 85% of snorers in the UK snore every night and 81% of their partners do not get sufficient amounts of sleep. Half report feeling tired in the mornings and a third feel irritable. Over half of the couples said that snoring affected their sexual relationship. A third admitted that they hardly ever made love because of the snoring problem and around 89% of snorer's partners slept in different bedrooms.

Snoring is a condition that occurs when the muscles that keep the airways open during the daytime relax, which in turn makes the airways narrow. Davey said: "Snoring is the coarse sound made by vibrations of the soft palate and other tissue in the mouth, nose and throat. There are many causes and it's important to find out what causes your snoring so you find the right treatment."

Robert Royston, a clinical scientist at the Royal National Nose & Ear Hospital in London, said that weight has a role to play in snoring. He believes that the number of snorers will actually increase, as obesity levels continue to soar. He said that: "Overeating leads to an enlargement of the tissue in the neck which, when lying down, can compress and restrict the airway raising the likelihood of snoring. Higher levels of obesity will produce more snorers." But weight is not the only factor that causes snoring. According to research done at St Thomas's Hospital in London, snoring may be genetic, as some snorers produce more of the hormone ghrelin, which helps to increase a person's appetite and then their weight. So this can lead to a tendency to snore. Other factors that can cause snoring are smoking, alcohol consumption, sleeping tablets, and even pregnancy. Excessive amounts of dairy products in the diet, and allergies such as hay fever help to stimulate mucus, that can then raise the incidence or level of snoring.

Dr Shneerson advises people to : "Look at lifestyle first and avoid alcohol and other triggers. Try to sleep on your side, and if necessary use an inhaler to open up nasal passages." If these suggestions do not work, consult your doctor on other possible treatments. They include a gum shield or Mandibular Advancement Splint, that works by pulling the jaw and tongue forward. This leaves room at the back of the throat. These devices can be made to measure. But dental technician Paul Cattell has invented a ready made adjustable device called Snorekil. It is available at www.snorekil.co.uk

Dr Schneerson suggests surgery to help correct the soft palate, which can be done using lasers and radio waves. Patients can also be given 'snore-plasty' injections into their soft palate, which causes it to stiffen and vibrate less. One injection is usually sufficient, although some patients require an annual top-up. People who suffer from sleep apnea may also benefit from a CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), which uses a mask and electric oxygen mask.

Those who suffer from snoring and their long-suffering spouses would do well to try a technique that is right for them. Visit your doctor if you are not able to stop snoring and see what the best course of action is for you. Snoring really can damage relationships. But with the proper treatment, both partners can sleep soundly each night.