It has been scientifically proven that a good nights sleep is essential for good general health and well being. Sleep is when your body repairs and recuperates in the hope that you will wake up the next morning full of vigour and ready to face to day.

When it comes to achieving a good nights sleep the advice is often the same with number one point being buy a bed that is comfortable and suited to you. Other pieces of advice are to avoid caffeine and eating after a certain time, to not have any televisions or laptops in your bedroom or to have a warm bath before you go to sleep. But what if the issue that is keeping you awake of nothing to do with any of the above, what if it's the person you share you bed with. How could they be keeping you awake? Snoring.

Snoring is the bane of many a couples lives and the source of many sleepless nights and grouchy mornings. Snoring has even been listed under 'unreasonable behaviour' in divorce petitions and the source of increased arguments between co-habiting couples. It becomes a vicious circle because the increased levels of arguments can often be traced back to a lack of sleep and raised levels of irritability due to snoring.

What is snoring?

"Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping."

As the above quote explains snoring is in part due to a blockage that can be in either the tip of the nose right through to the vocal cords and anywhere in between. The vibration which causes the sound can be traced to the turbulence between the soft pallet and any other tissues in the mouth, throat and nose.

Why do people snore?

There are many identified reasons for why people snore and they range from a weakness in the throat to a misalignment in the jaw that can allow for the tissues to vibrate and or obstruct. Snoring can also be worsened by fat that is gathered around the throat, neck or chest helping to cause obstructions. Snoring can also be a sign of more serious medical issues like sleep apnoea which is repetitive stops in breathing cause by an obstruction. This can be extremely dangerous and must be treated by a professional. Another more common reason why some people may snore some nights and not others is alcohol, alcohol is a relaxant and can cause the throat muscles to become extra relaxed and lead to snoring.

Unfortunately there is no known cure as of yet but there are many, many options for people to research and try available. From strips that you wear over your nose to the more drastic measures of surgery if the problem becomes unbearable.