Snoring and what you can do about it

Snoring – and what you can do about it

Loud snoring can upset your partner and leads to disturbed sleep. Tiredness and irritability are the result. This health tip explains what you can do about this night-time nuisance and what causes it.
Whether an individual snores or not is down to a range of factors. Weight, age and gender all play a part, but lifestyle and the individual anatomy of the throat, jaw and nose can also be involved. The sleeping position of the person affected should also be noted. Sleeping on your back often leads to snoring. Additional factors can include smoking, alcohol and medication.

Conversely, this means that if you have a healthy lifestyle, don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohol and avoid sleeping on your back, you can reduce the risk of snoring.


If the snoring continues despite a healthy lifestyle, you can consult a doctor to discuss potential treatments. These can include snoring braces or even surgical intervention.

Sleep apnoea

Sleep apnoea occurs when intense snoring is accompanied by periods in which breathing is interrupted. This is an ear, nose and throat condition which should be treated by a doctor.
Those affected are subject to continuous stress due to interrupted breathing while they are asleep and do not therefore rest properly. During the day they are often tired and can have difficulty concentrating. In fact, the tiredness can be so bad that they even fall asleep for short periods. This could have disastrous consequences in road traffic.

The usual treatment for sleep apnoea involves the sufferer wearing a face mask. The mask is connected to an electronic device which delivers a continuous supply of compressed air. Thanks to the airflow, the airways remain open and the person affected can sleep normally.

