Is snoring a sign of something serious?

It's not just your bed partner who is suffering, sleep apnoea could be making you miserable and costing the UK economy billions of pounds.

- By CAMILLA FOSTER

WORKPLACES have been urged to introduce screening for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) after research suggested that the condition may carry significant financial costs.

The research, conducted in the UK and the US, examined the economic impact of OSA in both countries and looked at absenteeism and reduced work productivity among adults.

In the UK sample, around 7% of working-age adults met the criteria for OSA, with estimated productivity losses reaching £4.22billion annually, or £1,840 per worker each year.

Sleep apnoea is a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, causing loud snoring, according to the NHS website.

What causes snoring?

Anatomy, lifestyle and physiology are the three main factors that can cause snoring, according to Dr Ryan Chin Taw Cheong, consultant ENT (ear, nose and throat) and sleep surgeon.