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Snoring

At 50, one out of two people in Britain snores

At a younger age it is mostly men who sleep noisily. But with their menopause women catch up and at the age of 50, one out of two people in Britain is a snorer.

What partners should know:

The snorer does not sleep well either. The consequence: neither partner gets a good night's rest. And microsleep at work or when driving a car holds a high accident risk.

What is the cause of snoring?

Snoring occurs when a sleeper breathes through his or her open mouth, causing the soft palate to slacken and then vibrate, which is responsible for the sound of snoring. Impeded nasal breathing is often the reason. This can be caused by rhinitis, a chronically congested nose or a deviation of the nasal septum. Another reason for breathing through the mouth is when the cheek muscles relax, letting the jaw drop and the mouth open.

Another way of entering the Guinness book...

The noise level of normal "sawing wood " averages 17-26 decibels and corresponds to the buzzing of a refrigerator. But snoring at a peak level of 87.5 decibels (Guinness book of 1990) is no fun. This corresponds to a lorry thundering by at a distance of 5 metres. But it's not the snorer's bed mate who lives a dangerous life. People who snore like that statistically speaking have a shorter life expectancy.

When should you see a doctor?

If you snore so loudly that you wake yourself up or disturb others, you should take it seriously. Irregular snoring or single loud snores after a break in breathing (mostly noticed by others) can be critical. In this case you should definitely consult a doctor. Especially when your partner notices that your regular breathing rhythm is interrupted, or when loud, irregular snoring goes hand in hand with tiredness during the day, a tendency to fall asleep and decreased concentration and performance. This is what doctors call "sleep apnoea". Treatment is essential.

Pay attention with children!

Snoring is very unusual for a child. Parents should therefore always consult a doctor.

Advice for snorers:

Alcohol encourages snoring. Avoid it – especially before you go to bed.
Give up smoking and if you are overweight, try to reduce weight.
Nasal irrigations are the ideal way to restore unrestricted nasal breathing. Crusts are loosened and pathogens are washed out of the nose.
Sleep on your side. A pillow propped against your back or a tennis ball sown onto the back of your pyjamas can help keep you from unintentionally falling back into your accustomed position unconsciously.
Avoid sleeping pills unless recommended by your doctor.
Do not hesitate to consult a doctor. Heavy snoring is a serious condition that should be treated.