Online questionnaire launched for snorers and their bed partners

For the UK's 15 million snorers, night time can involve disturbed sleep for the snorer and their bed partner, as well as causing unwanted physical and psychological side effects for adults and children alike. With this in mind, The British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association ( BSSAA - http://www.britishsnoring.co.uk ) is raising awareness of the condition as National Stop Snoring week approaches on 20 to 25 April, 2009. Marianne Davey, director of BSSAA, says: "Our research shows that snorers are more likely to suffer from excessive sleepiness during the day, become irritable and bad tempered, as well as depressed and anxious. We've found that snorers experience more health complaints and a poorer quality of life than non-snorers. Snorers will often experience social, psychological, employment and relationship difficulties as a result of their condition. "And it's not just adults who are suffering. We've found that children between the age of three and seven years often snore as their enlarged tonsils and adenoids restrict the airway making it difficult for them to breathe. She adds: "Children who snore do not usually thrive or do well at school. Because their sleep is disturbed, they frequently display behavioural problems and can be wrongly diagnosed as having ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) as the symptoms and consequences are very similar to those caused by snoring. However, treatment for snoring can resolve these problems and prevent children from turning into adult snorers." She concludes: "National Stop Snoring Week is the annual event promoting the general awareness that nobody needs to suffer continually as a result of snoring: it is a condition that can be treated." The BSSAA is providing an online questionnaire for snorers and their bed partners to help understand the true impact of snoring on peoples lives. To complete the questionnaire, please visit http://www.britishsnoring.co.uk/nssw2009