‘Embarrassing’ snoring habits dividing households

By MiNDFOOD

‘Embarrassing’ snoring habits dividing households
Thousands of Australians have admitted snoring is having a substantial impact on their relationships.

If getting through the Covid-19 lockdowns and home isolation wasn’t difficult enough, thousands of Australian couples are being kept awake at night due to snoring.

According to a new survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by Mute Snoring (mutesnoring.com), 83 per cent of respondents either admitted to snoring or reported living with someone who does.

And in a further poll of 2,650 adults, 79 per cent of participants noted that their partner had commented on their snoring at least once, with it appearing that the noisy sleep habit is having an impact on romantic relationships, resulting in dwindling sex life, loneliness, and even separation from a beloved partner.

Over a third revealed that they’d been either kicked or pushed by their significant other during the night to get them to stop snoring. Many others had been thrown out of the bedroom and onto a sofa or into a spare bedroom.

For those who ended up sleeping in separate rooms, a whopping 45 per cent revealed that the snoring affected sex and intimacy in the relationship. Many admitted that their snoring made them feel isolated, lonely, and even depressed.

Participants also reported that their partner had to wear earplugs to bed, or that snoring either delayed them moving in together or caused them to break up. Around a fifth of those surveyed confessed they were hesitant to spend the night with a new love interest or to invite people back to stay at their place due to their snoring.

Many of those surveyed divulged that they were “embarrassed” or “ashamed” whenever someone commented that they could hear them snoring “through the wall”.

And it’s not just romantic relationships that are affected – a fifth of respondents reported that someone else who they lived with, such as a housemate, snored with many being regularly woken up by the noise.

Michael Johnson, chief executive officer of Rhinomed Global, the Australia-based creator of the Mute nasal dilator, urged snorers to seek professional advice to tackle the condition.

“Thousands of us are very embarrassed by our snoring and would like to stop. While it may be amusing to some, it can have a huge impact on your life – whether you are the snorer or a person living with a snorer. As this new survey confirms, relationships can really struggle if one person – or even both – snore,” he commented. “It’s not just something that affects romantic partners. For those who feel embarrassed, it can also limit things like the holidays they take.

“Reducing snoring ultimately improves sleep, which in turn improves overall mental and physical wellbeing,” Johnson continued.

There are many reasons why someone may snore, and the survey results indicated about 30 per cent of people are seeking a solution. While making an appointment with an expert is key, treatment will often involve freeing up the airways through the use of devices such as a nasal dilator.

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