Snoring can be the cause of divorce

People who snore have sexual intercourse less often than others, says a survey published today. More than a quarter "hardly ever" have sex and 60 per cent are regularly told to sleep in the spare room, says the report at the start of National Stop Snoring Week. The British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association study confirms many widely-held assumptions and says the problem causes rows and can lead to &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/fun/2002/12/10/40648.html ' target=_blank>divorce. More than half of the couples questioned admitted that they had sexual intercourse less than once a month and said they would do so more often if the snoring stopped. Marianne Davey, the co-founder of the association, said: "We have looked at the clinical side of snoring like causes and the treatments but there is very little written about the psycho-sexual effects of snoring." Snoring can occur as a result of sleep apnoea, when the muscles of the throat go floppy at night causing the airways to narrow and become blocked, reports the Telegraph. The couple are not alone - there are around 15 million snorers in the UK, although the majority are men. Today is the start of National Stop Snoring Week, which aims to draw attention to their plight. A survey by the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association today says 69 per cent of snorers in Scotland sleep in another room to their partners - and 97 per cent say their relationship would be better if they stopped &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/science/19/94/379/d?count=30 ' target=_blank>snoring. Robert Royston, a clinical scientist at the Royal National Throat Nose & Ear Hospital in London, says: "Snoring is often dismissed as a joke but it can lead to the breakdown of relationships because partners cannot endure the disturbed or sleepless nights caused by it." Marianne Davey, co-founder of the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association, adds: "Snoring is defined as a coarse sound made by vibrations of the soft palate and other tissue in the mouth, nose and throat - caused by partial blockage of the upper airway. It’s important to find out what causes your snoring so you can choose the appropriate treatment." Causes can include &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/18/90/360/14818_fat.html ' target=_blank>obesity, excessive drinking or allergies - but in seven years Zoe has yet to find the source of her problem, tells the Scotsman. NR

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