Female Scene

Stop him snoring

Stop him snoringAll too often men make their partner's life a misery with their snoring habits. However help is at hand

What is the problem?

The sheer loudness of the noise is the main problem for a partner. Unfortunately around one in five middle-aged men snore loudly and  one in twelve of men aged 30-60 also suffer from a more serious problem called sleep apnoea. Many actually stop breathing temporarily, sometimes up to nine hundred times a night. Problems associated with sleep apnoea include high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

What are the symptoms?

Noisy breathing is the main sympton. Sleep apnoea results in daytime tiredness as the sufferer wakes up repeatedly during the night, often without realising it. He may also suffer morning headaches, memory problems and difficulty in concentrating.

What causes it?

A cold or an allergy can cause snoring. Both snoring and the most common type of sleep apnoea ('obstructive sleep apnoea') can be the result of weight gain or drinking alcohol. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or a large uvula (the piece of soft tissue that hangs down at the back of the throat), may also be responsible. Men with larger necks are more likely to snore.

What treatments are available?

Snorers and sleep apnoea sufferers can use a mouthpiece to keep the tongue from blocking the airway. In extreme cases, surgery might be used to relieve any obstruction. Sleep apnoea can also be treated with 'continuous positive airway pressure', when air is forced into the airway through a mask worn over the nose.

What can he do?

Because a man is more likely to snore if he sleeps on his back, he should try to sleep on his side - a desperate measure  may involve sewing a squash ball into his pyjamas near the small of his back might help keep him in the right position. He should also try drinking less alcohol and, if he's overweight, lose a few pounds.

How can he prevent it?

By not putting on too much weight, sleeping on his side and drinking alcohol in moderation.

The outlook is good, if effective advice and treatment are obtained. Your first port of call might be the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association. In the online shop you'll find all manner of helpful devices, from earplugs for you to nasal strips, sprays and dilators for him.

Try a natural remedy such as Snorenz from Think Natural. This is a blend of natural oils and vitamins in a liposome spray, which coats the soft tissues at the back of the throat, and reduces the noise level. 

The Nozovent device fits into the nostrils and gently widens them, making it easier to breathe through your nose. The result is easier breathing, reduced snoring, dry mouth and stuffy nose. 

Read all about the problem in 'Snoring from A to Zzzz: Proven Cures for the Night's Worst Nuisance' by Derek S Lipman  from Spencer Press, price £9.99