Every night, in homes across the country, bedrooms reverberate with the whining of the nation’s snorers.
It’s a deafening sound that blights an estimated 40 per cent of adults in the UK — and their long-suffering partners.
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Around one billion people suffer from sleep apnoea globally Credit: Getty
But three key symptoms can indicate if snoring is so bad it might become a deadly health issue, according to leading doctors.
They say people should encourage their partner to see a GP if snoring is very heavy and includes gasping for air, choking or periods where they don’t breathe at all in the night.
This is because they are signs of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which increases the risk of deadly heart diseases, stroke and dementia.
Dr Ryan Chin Taw Cheong, a consultant at University College London NHS Hospitals, said: “In the past, we would look at sleep deprivation as a badge of honour.
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“But the culture has shifted to prioritise sleep as a foundation of health.
“Snoring used to be dismissed but there is now more awareness that troublesome snoring can be a sign of serious or deadly conditions.
“Good sleep is the foundation of all health.”
Dr Alanna Hare, from Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS hospitals, added: “Patients themselves aren’t necessarily aware of the signs and think it’s part of normal ageing to be tired or forgetful.
“Many are embarrassed by snoring and reporting it to a GP might feel difficult”.
Dr Hare, also said that it can present in women as insomnia and fatigue more commonly, especially peri or post-menopausal women.
OSA causes the walls of the throat to relax and narrow or close for a few seconds during sleep, triggering breathing pauses and loud snoring.
Symptoms during the daytime may include tiredness, brain fog, mood swings and difficulty concentrating.
Research suggests sufferers are up to 10 times more likely to crash their cars.
Sleep apnoea can be tackled with lifestyle changes like weight loss, or with medical treatment such as oxygen masks or mouthguards.
Higher alcohol and smoking consumption can also put people at higher risk of OSA.
A CPAP machine can deliver a steady stream of pressurised air through the mask to keep airways open during sleep.
More than 2.5 million people in the UK are estimated to be living with undiagnosed sleep apnoea according to the Royal College of Nursing.
It comes as a study by The Sleep Charity in 2024 found that nine in ten people experience some sort of sleep problem.
But experts have long advised that waking up during the night does not necessarily mean you have insomnia, which figures suggest affects up to 14million Brits or other medical conditions.
Signs you have sleep apnoea
Sleep apnoea is when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep.
The most common type is called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Sleep apnoea needs to be treated because it can lead to more serious problems.
Symptoms mainly happen while you’re asleep, they include:
Breathing stopping and starting
Making gasping, snorting or choking noises
Waking up a lot
Loud snoring
During the day, you may also:
Feel very tired
Find it hard to concentrate
Have mood swings
Have a headache when you wake up
It can be hard to tell if you have sleep apnoea.
It may help to ask someone to stay with you while you sleep so they can check for the symptoms.
If a GP thinks you might have sleep apnoea, they may refer you to a specialist sleep clinic for tests.
Source: NHS
