Report reveals Aussie’s snoring habits and a symphony of bedroom noises!

Almost half (49%) the Australian population are snorers according to the Global Snore Censuzz – a new report looking at snoring habits around the world, with men found to be the worst offenders, particularly those aged 45 – 54 followed by the 35 – 44 age group.

Tasmanians were identified as the worst snorers in the country, with 63 per cent of residents keeping their partners and housemates awake – compared to the national average of 49 per cent.

Western Australian came in second with 57 per cent of residents snoring the night away, followed by ACT with 51 per cent, Queensland with 50 per cent, Victoria (49%) and New South Wales (48%). South Australia is the quietest state with only 40 per cent of residents admitting they snore.

The study found ‘a growl’ to be the most common way people have had their snoring described (21%), while 11 per cent have been told it resembles a roar. Others had comparisons with a saw (10 %), thunder (8%) and Darth Vader (6%).

The report also looked at the effect of snoring on relationships and daily life, finding 43 per cent of snorers have been elbowed or kicked. Partners of snorers say they have had to resort to a range of other tactics including moving to another room (25%) or the sofa (17%) and 12 per cent have resorted to using ear plugs to get a decent night’s sleep.

Commissioned by Melbourne-based Rhinomed: creator of nasal dilator Mute (www.mutesnoring.com), the report saw 56 per cent of men admitting to snoring compared to just 43 per cent of women, and while there are likely to be many ‘closet snorers’ out there, leading sleep expert Olivia Arezollo confirms men are indeed more likely to snore.
“Men tend gain weight around the neck which limits airflow, and structurally a male’s upper airway collapses more than females. Higher testosterone is also linked to greater breathing instability. But snoring is not just an annoying habit, it can have serious health repercussions too,” warns Arezollo.

“The stress hormone cortisol can increase by up to 37 per cent after just one night of insufficient sleep; leaving you feeling anxious, wired, and unable to switch off. In addition, beta amyloid, a neurotoxin contributes to brain fog, memory loss and even Alzheimer’s disease, increases by 5 per cent after two nights in inadequate sleep.”
The Global Snore Censuzz results also found that after a night of disturbed sleep due to snoring, 47 per cent of people reported feeling snappy and irritable, 40 per cent had difficulty concentrating and 23 per cent forgot important things.

“Our global report shows that snoring is a widespread issue with millions of people around the world affected, yet it’s still often regarded as something you put up with despite there being different things you can try,” Michael Johnson, CEO of Rhinomed confirmed.

“In some cases, simply freeing up the airways will give snorers – and their partner a quieter night’s sleep. Our nasal dilator, Mute has been shown to help snorers; with 75 per cent of partners reporting a reduction in snoring when using Mute, in our user trials.,” he added.

It’s well known that men will avoid seeing a doctor for as long as possible, so it was no surprise to find that only one in ten (11%) of the study participants said they’ve sought help from a medical professional for their own or their partner’s snoring.

Following Men’s Health Week from 13 – 19  June, both Arezollo and Johnson are calling for Aussie men to make an appointment with their GP and take more positive actions when it comes to looking after their physical and mental health, especially if it’s impacting sleep quality!

Olivia’s 5 top tips to help reduce snoring:

  1. Ensure you are at a healthy weight – as noted in a University of Florida study, weight reduction for those carrying excess weight can improve snoring – so much so that in some cases, symptoms can be eliminated.
  2. Avoid drinking – a 2020 meta-analytic study confirmed that alcohol is associated with worsening snoring and abnormal sleep architecture. As a result, snorers are more likely to struggle with fatigue. Essentially, it relaxes the muscles around the airways, increasing your likelihood of snoring.
  3. Sleep on your side, not your back. Back sleeping encourages your tongue to collapse on the back wall of your throat, increasing vibrations and thus, snoring. On the other hand, side sleeping does not.
  4. Consider a nasal dilator, such as Mute – for a simple, straightforward solution, nasal dilators such as Mute should be considered – their clinical trials indicate snoring can be reduced by 75%; and that 78% of users reported breathing easier at night.
  5. Improve air quality. Well ventilated, purified air reduces the risk that snoring is due to pollution – which can otherwise lead to irritated airways, congestion, and worsening symptoms.

References:

  1. One Poll study as part of a Global Snore Censuzz inc 2,000 Australian Adults (Nationally Representative)
    3rd – 14th February 2022
  2. 2014 Mute user study, 114 couples.