Local Life - Wigan - October 2019

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Stop snoring
Snoring is a common problem but shouldn’t be ignored.
It can affect your sleep, mental health, physical health and
relationships, and may also indicate sleep apnoea.
Try lifestyle changes to tackle snoring, and ensure
you sleep on your side (a tennis ball taped to the
back of your nightwear or a bed wedge can help).
If this doesn’t help, you need to identify the cause
of your snoring by using The British Snoring and
Sleep Apnoea Association’s questionnaires at
britishsnoring.co.uk/itests to find treatment.
Problem: Your tongue partially blocks your throat.
Solution: A mandibular advancement device, which
helps to bring your tongue forward.
Problem: Your mouth falls open when you’re asleep.
Solutions: A chin strap, or a vestibular shield (worn
in your mouth so you breathe through your nose).
Problem: Blocked or narrow nasal airways.
Solutions: Nasal dilators or strips that hold your
nose open, or sprays to reduce nasal swelling.
If these solutions don’t work, DO see your GP. They
may refer you to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
specialist.
Could you have sleep apnoea?
Symptoms of sleep apnoea include loud snoring,
especially on your back and short periods when you
stop breathing or gasp. Risk factors include a large
neck (17+ inches for men, 15+ for women), a narrow
airway, nasal congestion and a family history of OSA
(obstructive sleep apnoea), when the muscles of
the throat collapse.
OSA sufferers may have repeated episodes of
apnoea and/or hypopnoea throughout the night.
Don’t ignore symptoms, as sleep apnoea increases
risk of high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks,
type 2 diabetes and gradual loss of brain function.
Treatments for OSA include lifestyle changes,
a CPAP device which delivers compressed air
through a mask and prevents closing of the airway,
a mandibular advancement device or surgery, if
your OSA is caused by a physical problem that can
be physically corrected.
For more advice, visit:
The British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association:
britishsnoring.co.uk