Eckington & Killamarsh Doorsteppa April 20

The Doorsteppa
25 WELL BEING
April 20th marks the start of National Stop
Snoring Week
Snoring is the distinctive sound made by
vibrations of the soft palate and other tissue in
the mouth, nose and throat. It is caused by
turbulence which occurs due to a partial
blockage that may be located anywhere from
the tip of the nose to the vocal cords.
obstruction. It is considered clinically significant
if a person stops breathing for more than 10
seconds each time and if occurs more than 5
times every hour. OSA only happens during
sleep. When you experience an episode of
apnoea during sleep your brain will
automatically wake you up, usually with a very
loud snore or snort, in order to breathe again.
People with OSA can experience wakening
episodes many times during the night and
consequently feel very sleepy during the day.
During waking hours muscle tone keeps the
airway in good shape. When we sleep our
throat muscles relax and this decrease in tone
can cause airways to narrow and vibrate.
Though it can certainly feel like your partner is
doing it to annoy you, no-one snores
deliberately, and unfortunately it can't be
cured. But it can be controlled. The key to
control is to find out the cause of your
particular snoring. Snoring can be related to the
tongue, nose, mouth, or it can be multi-factorial.
Historically it was considered to be a male
problem, but it actually affects males to females
in the ratio of 2:1. Women tend to under-report
and fail to seek help due to embarrassment
because even in the 21st century it’s considered
‘unladylike’ to snore! The risk factors for
snoring are similar in women to men: being
overweight, smoking, and alcohol are common
factors, but women also snore more following
the menopause and it’s one of the symptoms of
hypothyroidism.
Snoring is often considered a joke, but it can
have a devastating effect on people. Sleep
deprivation (both the snorer and their partner)
is physically and mentally debilitating and can
lead to illness as well as relationship breakdown.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a particularly
dangerous side-effect of snoring, defined as the
cessation of airflow during sleep, preventing air
from entering the lungs caused by an
If you are excessively sleepy during the day and
feel irritable or restless, you may be suffering
from OSA. Your partner may point out that
your snoring is loud, often interrupted by
pauses and gasps. You might fall asleep at work,
whilst driving, or during conversations. You
might be forgetful and irritable and suffer with
morning headaches. Not everyone who has
these symptoms will have sleep apnoea but if
you suffer with them a lot, you should seek
advice from a medical professional.
The British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea
Association (BSSAA) has a very helpful website
packed with advice and useful questionnaires
and information about all aspects of snoring.
They even sell approved anti-snoring devices.
The web address is britishsnoring.co.uk
Here’s to a peaceful night’s sleep!
By Louise Addison
Tel: 0114 4185359 • Mob: 07903 858276 • Email: thedoorsteppa@gmail.com • Web: www.thedoorsteppa.co.uk