Do snoring remedies really work?
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77% of people surveyed by Which? live in a house where someone snores. 59% say their sleep is regularly interrupted by snoring.
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If you or your partner snore you might have tried some over-the-counter remedies to help you stop. But a new survey has found that most people who use these don't think they work.
Why is snoring in the news?
A survey by consumer watchdog Which? has shown that 71% of people who tried over-the-counter snoring aids rated them as not very, or not at all, effective.
Why don't the remedies work?
Which? says that some of the products that claim to stop snoring aren't based on any scientific evidence.
However, there are lots of reasons for people snoring and the remedies available tend not to tackle more than one. So they won't work for you if you're using the wrong one, or if there's more than one reason that you snore.
What makes people snore?
Snoring is caused when the airways in the throat are narrowed which means that parts of the mouth and throat vibrate - making a snoring noise.
Lots of things can cause this - including if you're overweight or sleeping in a certain position. In some cases it can be caused by having a misshapen nose. Other people snore when they've had alcohol and some snore in pregnancy.
Snoring can also be caused by a condition called sleep apnoea.
Is snoring bad for your health?
If it's a sign of sleep apnoea then yes. This is when the muscles in the throat relax too much and block the airways. This condition isn't dangerous, as your brain will wake you up if you stop breathing, but it can mean severely disturbed sleep and can slightly increase your risk of heart and lung problems.
It can also be bad for your health if you sleep with a snoring partner. Studies have shown that if your sleep is regularly disturbed you're more likely to have high blood pressure. And the louder the snoring, the higher your blood pressure gets.
What do the experts say?
Co-founder of the British snoring and sleep apnoea association (BSSAA), Marianne Davey, says: 'There are lots of reasons for snoring, so there are lots of treatments and people buy inappropriate products for their problem.
'Some of the products have good evidence behind them, but you need to find out why you snore and buy one that's tailored to your needs.'
She also says that it's important to look at lifestyle issues, such as being overweight, drinking alcohol and sleeping on your back, as well as using anti-snoring products.
She added: 'There's usually more than one reason for snoring, so losing weight might help to reduce your snoring but probably won't stop it altogether.'
Sources: BBC News, BSSAA, Which?.
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Where to next?
- More information on sleep apnoea
- Your tips on dealing with snoring
- Small lifestyle changes that could help you stop snoring
- More sleep solutions
More help
Find out what type of snorer you are: Visit the British snoring and sleep apnoea association
By Katie McPhilimy
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Health And Hygiene Blog, 5 months
I had a snoring partner and as a result of his snoring I had a high blood pressure. The only way to avoid it was to sleep in the other room or to break up with him. He took snoring pills but they didn't fix his <a href="http://www.health-and-hygiene.com/sleep-disorders/stop-snoring/"> snoring </a>. However I gave him a snoring device on his birthday. And it worked out.
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