Snoring Facts for Sleepers

It’s often considered unsocial and is a massive problem for a lot of people in the UK but snoring is a very common problem for sleepers.

If you share your bed it can be even worse as you may suffer from broken sleep, along with the person you share the bed with but for two very different reasons.

A staggering one in five people suffer with snoring problems with men out numbering women in terms of statistics.

So if you share your bed with someone who snores and you sit up at night with your back against your headboard waiting for them to stop so you can get to sleep, you may be interested to know just some of the theories in what causes it along with some potential solutions in our bed blog.

A simple fact is that snoring is not necessarily a constant problem.  In fact it is actually harmless most of the time and can range from fairly constant to ‘occasional’ and if you’ve ever been next to someone in bed who snores you’ll know just how loud it can get!

There are a number of causes for snoring and on most occasions it involves some kind of blockage of the air passage while you are sleeping, resulting in noise!

Some people with severe snoring issues may have something called sleep apnoea which can be very severe and that can also be indicative of other problems.  If you think you suffer from persistent snoring then you should always consult your Doctor for advice.

How can you stop snoring?

There are medical procedures that can help you stop snoring and there is always surgery as a last resort, but milder symptoms can be reduced with a little effort and forward thinking!

You can purchase anti-snoring devices that fit on the nose to assist you in keeping your airways clear.

You can use allergy reducing pillows, which may be helpful if your snoring is induced by dust.

Regular cleaning of your bed, your mattress, headboards and of course under your bed will also potentially help

How can I find out what kind of snorer I am?

There are actually different kinds of snorers so it’s always worth trying to find out which category you fall in to in finding ways to stop snoring.

Firstly, there’s the nose test.  This involves looking in to a mirror while pressing the side of one of your nostrils close to it.

Close your mouth and breathe through your nostril.

If it collapses try keeping it open with a matchstick or similar item and if you find the breathing becomes easier, then you may find nasal strips will help you.

If this isn’t you, then try the next test.

Doing the same as above with the mirror. Try breathing through your nose.  If you can’t breathe that well through your nose then you may be an allergy based snorer.  If this is the case, ensure you reduce dust in the bedroom and clean the bedding regularly.

You may also benefit from a traditional over the counter remedy but you should always consult your doctor for advice before doing so.

Next is the mouth breathing test.

Open your mouth and if you can, make a snoring sound.  Now close your mouth and attempt to make the same noise.  If you can only do it with your mouth open, then you are a classic ‘mouth breather’ snorer!

You could try the popular chin-up strips, which stop you from opening your mouth while sleeping as they can be very effective!

Now try the tongue test!

First stick your tongue out as far as you can and grip it gently between your teeth.  Try to snore!

If the noise is reduced while you do this then your snoring is caused by your tongue.  You could try a tongue guard which will keep your tongue in the right position while you sleep but again, always consult your doctor for advice.

There are a host of reasons why you snore, but these are the most common ones and you may find that some of the advice helps you and your partner to get a slightly better night’s sleep in your bed!