Tag Archives: National Stop Snoring Week

Is snoring keeping you awake at night?

 

Have you ever lain awake at night or been disrupted from your sleep by a partner that snores? Perhaps you are the person that is snoring and it is affecting your partner’s sleeping pattern. Whichever way, snoring can have a significant impact on our ability to get a good night’s sleep and potentially affect our relationships. Help is at hand, however. Monday marked the start of National Stop Snoring Week, an annual event promoting general awareness that nobody need suffer as a result of snoring: it is a condition that can be treated.

What is snoring?

The British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association defines snoring as: ‘… a coarse sound made by vibrations of the soft palate and other tissues of the mouth, nose and throat (upper airway). It is caused by a partial blockage of the upper airway.’

Our chances of snoring can be increased by factors such as being overweight, alcohol, and smoking.  People with severe snoring may have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)a condition where the airways become temporarily blocked during sleep.

 

How many of us snore?*

  1. 41.5% of the UK adult population snore.
  2. There are approximately 15 million snorers in the UK.
  3. Snoring affects 30 million people in the UK.
  4. There are 10.4 million males and 4.5 million females who snore
  5. The ratio of male to female snorers is 2.3:1
  6. Figures from a recent survey found men are louder snorers than women.
  7. 58% of snorers are between 50-59 years of age.

* (Credit: British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association)

Snoring self-help tips:

There are a number of lifestyle changes and sleep hygiene tips that can help minimise snoring:

  1. Try and maintain a healthy diet and weight.
  2. Try to sleep on your side rather than your back.
  3. Avoid alcohol before going to bed.
  4. Quit or cut down on smoking.
  5. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine as this helps to promote sleep.
  6. Keep your nasal passages clear so that you breathe in through your nose rather than your mouth.
  7. Try and keep your bedroom at the right temperature – between 16 and 18 degrees centigrade.
  8. Keep your bedroom free from distractions – mobile phones, computers / laptops and the television can all contribute to sleep disruption.
  9. Make sure your bed is providing you with the right support. A bigger bed may help with less partner disturbance.
  10. Create a relaxing sleeping environment by keeping the bedroom uncluttered and not too bright at night.

What to do next:

As a Sleep Council Accredited Retailer, Dalzell’s is committed to providing our customers with expert advice and support on getting a good night’s sleep.  If you are concerned about you or your partner’s snoring it may be helpful to talk to your GP, pharmacist or other professional bodies, including the British  Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association.  Visit us in-store, call 028 3755 1260email or go online where you’ll find lots of information on getting a good night’s sleep, best buys and choosing the right bed for you. A short drive from Newry and located convenient to Lisburn and Belfast, we’re perfectly placed to accommodate your new bed purchase. What’s more, we provide a Free Collection and Recycling of Your Old Bed service and Free Delivery of your New Bed throughout our Free Delivery Zone, which extends across Northern Ireland, and Counties Louth, Monaghan and Dublin, in the rest of Ireland.