Snoring is a serious business, in more ways than one.  According to Markets and Markets the global anti-snoring treatments market is expected to reach USD 1,232.6 Million by 2020 from USD 744.7 Million in 2015.

And according to a new survey by pharmaceutical giant GSK, makers of Breathe Right nasal strips, to mark National Snoring Week (Seriously? This whole ‘Week’ thing is going too far now), nearly 1 in 6 Brits have considered leaving their partner due to their snoring, more than 1 in 20 (6.7%) believe it has made them depressed, and a similar number (6%) say their relationship is really suffering as a result of their partner’s snoring. So yeah, it’s serious.

For those afflicted, it can often be a source of deep, life-limiting embarrassment, forcing them to avoid relationships, staying over with friends, long-haul flights, the joys of camping and all sorts. For those who have to live with snorers it can be even worse, an endless, sleepless, tormenting, rage-inducing hell.

The problem is we don’t really take it seriously. Maybe it’s thanks to old cartoons and sitcom stereotypes, but for some reason, whenever we Brits talk about snoring it’s nearly always accompanied by sniggers and mickey-taking. There’s a good chance this leads to a playing down of the potential consequences of letting chronic snoring going untreated year after year and prevents people from taking action.

And there are actions you can take, from simple changes in sleeping behaviour, to devices like nasal strips and mouthpieces, herbal help from peppermint oil or goldenseal root, to more drastic medical procedures such as somnoplasty which may or may not work. As always, the best place to start is a conversation with your GP, but don’t leave it until your partner is packing their bags before you take action.

More snore stats from the national survey (of 1,500 adults in relationships)

• 78% claim they have had a partner who snores – men are twice as likely to snore as women
• 14% claim they are completely sleep deprived because of it
• 5.5% of couples ‘argue all the time’ over snoring
• 60% of snorers deny they have a problem
• 27% say their partner’s snoring drives them crazy
• 28% of partners have resorted to recording their partner to prove how bad they are
• 51% believed that losing weight may solve their partner’s snoring
• 75% of women claimed their partner’s snoring was worse when they had been drinking
• 52% of men said their partner’s snoring got worse after a night drinking
• 32% of couples often feel at their wits end due to a lack of sleep
• 28% admit being less attracted to their other half because of their snoring
• 6.7% feel they are becoming depressed due to snoring
• 6% say their relationship is really suffering as a result of their partner’s snoring.
• 53% of people affected give their snoring partner a nudge
• 28% try to gently turn their partner over on to their side
• 19% tend to admit defeat and trundle off to the spare room or sofa,
• while about one in twenty slept in the same room as their child in order to get some shut eye
• 33%  said their relationship would improve if their partner stopped snoring
• 75% have never tried to take action with an anti-snoring device or treatment.