Couples sleep apart due to sleeping disorders

New results from The Gift of Sleep Survey have uncovered the sleeping habits of people who currently snore or have sleep apnoea (SA) in the UK. With Christmas being a time where we like to be close to our loved ones, the study highlights that sleeping disorders such as snoring and sleep apnoea could be causing couples to sleep apart.

81% of people reported that they or their partner snored at least one night a week or more, and 28% of those who are married or living as married said that they or their partner had to sleep in a separate room because of it. Over a third of respondents (35%) reported that they have avoided sleeping away from home at friends or family due to their or their partner’s snoring or sleep apnoea.

The Gift of Sleep Survey, showed that approximately 53% of participants reported that they or their partner currently claim they snore or experience some form of sleep disordered breathing condition (SDB includes snoring and all forms of Sleep Apnoea), with 43% that snore and 15% having a form of sleep apnoea. In those that snore or suffer from sleep apnoea, the tongue lacks muscle endurance during sleep. This results in the tongue falling to the back of the throat, partially blocking the upper airway and decreasing oxygen intake and causing the sleeper to stop and restart breathing during sleep, often jolting them awake. In fact, of the 1,078 adults that said they or their partner snored or have a form of SDB, 64% said they or their partner are woken up at least once per night by the snoring or sleep apnoea while 32% reported that they or their partner had actually stopped and restarted breathing (including jolting awake) during sleep.

Aston spoke to Professor Bhik Kotecha.

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