Can you ever STOP SNORING?

It's a habit that can bring embarrassment and teasing, but taming those rumbles could be simpler than you think

- NATALIA LUBOMIRSKI

Snoring is often treated as a bit of a joke. But for the 15 million people in the UK who snuffle and snort in their sleep, it's no laughing matter. While some may shrug off the teasing, many habitual snorers find the condition frustrating and embarrassing, and it may even hold you back from having fun weekends away with friends or progressing ina new relationship — the fear of wheezing during your first sexy sleepover is reall! But snoring shouldn't control your life. Here's everything you need to know.

The causes

There are many reasons why people snore, from medical conditions – like obstructive sleep apnoea, thyroid issues and conditions affecting the nose or throat (polyps, congestion, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or a deviated septum) —to lifestyle factors. 'Increased body weight, drinking alcohol and smoking can make snoring worse,' says Dr Aarthi Sinha from churchcrescent.co.uk.

The noise you make is the sound of air moving through a narrower airway at night, causing tissues to vibrate in the nose and back of the mouth. This can worsen as you get older.