Sleeping next to a snorer is not only extremely frustrating but can also have a negative impact on both your physical and mental health.
Sleep expert Dr Sophie Bostock revealed on This Morning that the number of snorers has increased during lockdown due to inactivity, as we’re stuck inside hunched over a desk and spending less time outside moving around.
Dr Bostock said exercise and weight loss can go a long way to alleviating the problem, as well as cutting out habits like drinking alcohol before bed.
But if you’re looking for a quicker solution, the expert revealed a bizarre trick that might just do the job – and all you need is a tennis ball. But before you get too excited, it isn’t throwing at their head.
Discussing how the position we sleep in can effect the amount we snore, Dr Bostock said: “Most people notice that snoring gets worse when you lie on your back.
“So what happens when you lie on your back, your mouth is more likely to open and as it does so, it kind of moves back and compresses the airways, so the muscles in your tongue tend to relax more.
“Anything you can do to keep yourself leaning on the side; some people find a line of pillows, or even a tennis ball sewn into the back of your pyjamas can make it uncomfortable to lean over onto your back.”
She also revealed there are more extreme measures you can go to, including using specially designed pieces of tape to hold your mouth shut and promote breathing through your nose instead.
There’s also nose strips to help open up your airways, and mouth guards to stop your jaw from sliding back and contributing to the problem.
Failing that, there’s always earplugs – or as some viewers suggested, kicking them out of bed. Best of luck.
This content was originally published here.
