Stop snoring

Tuesday March 13, 2007

If you have a partner who snores it will come as no surprise to learn researchers say you're losing sleep over it.

New British research suggests if you sleep with a snorer you're losing two hours kip a night and up to two years of rest over your lifetime .

University of Queensland sleep expert, Dr Sean Tolhurst, talks about the cost of snoring and shares his tips for reducing the problem.

According to a British study by the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association (BSSAA), people with partners who snore lose two hours of sleep a night and if the average relationship last 24 years then that loss will add up to two years kip.

The study also found that snoring affected relationships, as partners of snorers suffered from a loss of sleep and felt upset and frustrated with their loved one.

Dr Tolhurst agrees with the findings of the British study as he has conducted his own snoring research and had similar results. He studied the quality of sleep a snorer's partner has once they eventually get back to sleep and says that even though they are out to it, a snorer's partner is still affected by the noise and their quality of rest greatly reduced.

"Once you are woken up by snoring it is harder to get back to sleep because you become frustrated and that works against getting back to sleep", says Dr Tolhurst.

If you continually lose sleep due to a partner snoring you build up a sleep debt and if you don't catch up you end up with chronic sleep deprivation. People that are sleep deprived are more likely to have a car accident, experience marital disharmony and they don't perform as well when at work, says Dr Tolhurst.

However, the good news is that there are treatments for snoring, but they vary depending on the individual. Snorers are strongly encouraged to see a medical sleep specialist as there are serious side-effects for some people who snore, including an increased risk of heart problems.

Tips on reducing snoring: