Snoring on the rise among Brits as nation gets fatter, study finds

"Bad news for anyone who doesn't want to share a bed with a partner who sounds like an asthmatic walrus - snoring is set to dramatically rise in the UK because we are getting fatter. Almost a half of young and middle-aged adults will soon suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea, where the upper airway collapses during sleep affecting breathing. The condition, which disturbs the sleep of people who have it, and often leaves their partners lying awake, is linked to obesity."

"In 2020, a third of adults aged 30 to 69 were living with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which causes people to wake up to 40 times a night, frequently with a snort or gasp. But by 2035, that figure is predicted to reach 45 per cent. People who are obese tend to have more fatty tissue in their necks, which presses on the airway and makes it narrower and more likely to collapse."

"An international research team calculated that 54 per cent of men aged 30 to 69 will have OSA in Britain by 2050 - up from 39 per cent now. In women of this age, 49 per cent are projected to have OSA by 2050, up from 36 per cent now. That means the number of people in the UK living with the condition will increase from about 7.7 million to 11.9 million."

Rising obesity across the UK is projected to drive a sharp increase in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) among adults. OSA prevalence among adults aged 30–69 rose from about one third in 2020 to projected rates of 45 percent by 2035 and nearly half by 2050, raising counts from roughly 7.7 million to 11.9 million. Excess fatty tissue in the neck narrows the upper airway and increases collapse risk during sleep. OSA causes repeated breathing interruptions, oxygen deprivation, loud snoring, fragmented sleep and daytime impairment. OSA also elevates risks of high blood pressure and heart disease. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines keep airways open during sleep as standard treatment.

Read at Mail Online