Snoring is a very common problem, reported to affect approximately 25% of the population to varying degrees. In the past snoring was always considered harmless, if a little annoying.

However, in more recent years, it has been increasingly recognised that sometimes snoring can be a sign of a more serious condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), which left untreated can lead to severe long term health problems.

How can I tell if my snoring is just snoring or OSA?

It is more likely that snoring could be a sign of OSA if you find yourself (or your bed partner witnesses) gasping or choking for breath during the night or you appear to have brief periods of not breathing. If you are excessively tired a lot of the time during the day and sometimes 'nod off', this can also be suggestive that OSA is a problem for you. But the only way to be absolutely sure is to be tested by a sleep clinic or via an in home sleep study.

For a quick, free test to see whether your signs correspond with those of known OSA sufferers, see www.sleep-tests.co.uk