Kath Hope
CEO, Hope2Sleep
Snoring itself causes unrestful sleep for the snorer but is also responsible for bed partners to suffer from sleep disruption. However, it could have a serious underlying cause.
People go to great lengths to stop the snoring, even though the snorers themselves aren’t always affected by it. Many relationships break down, and it’s common to hear of couples sleeping in separate bedrooms. However, before rushing to fix the snoring, it needs investigating in case it’s the noisy alarm warning of a more serious medical condition.
Obstructive sleep apnoea is very common in snorers
Although not all snorers have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a high percentage of them do. This is why it’s important to check, and a sleep study is the only way to prove this. However, not everyone with OSA snores either, so it’s the pauses in breathing that are important to listen for.
As well as the snoring, if a person has OSA, there will be periods of (welcome) silence — a dangerous silence, though, as it’s when the snorer stops breathing that the heart rate increases and the oxygen levels drop.
The body then has to work hard to restart the breathing (a bit like internal CPR), and this can also frighten bed partners who give the snorer a big nudge to jolt them to start breathing again — often preceded by a snorting or choking sound.
The snoring will start again, and the same cycle continues throughout the night, putting pressure on the heart and other organs. This repeated pattern will cause damage over time, which is why untreated OSA is a health risk.
Although not all snorers have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a high percentage of them do.
Risks that come with sleep apnoea
Heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression are just some of the high risks for untreated OSA, but there are links to many other medical conditions and emotional problems which you can read about on our ‘what is sleep apnoea’ webpage.
This is why the Hope2Sleep Charity constantly raises awareness of this common condition — estimated to affect 8 million people in the UK, as well as the fact that my own mother’s life was cut short at the age of 49 due to untreated sleep apnoea. This is one of the reasons I started the charity.
Get help if the snoring is concerning
Please ask your GP for a sleep clinic referral, and you are welcome to contact us at the Hope2Sleep Charity for free support and advice. Treating sleep apnoea really could improve your overall health.
