Insomnia means low-quality sleep. It is very common with around one-third of people in the UK suffering from it. Insomnia can occur in many different forms, from difficulties falling to sleep, staying asleep, waking up too early without being able to get back to sleep, or not feeling refreshed from sleep. It leads to significant symptoms in the daytime such as tiredness, difficulties concentrating, and sometimes problems controlling your emotions. Because everyone is unique, the amount of sleep someone requires to function their best varies from person to person and also tends to decrease with age, so there is no set criteria to diagnose insomnia. The diagnosis is made from what a patient describes, the symptoms they experience, and their doctor’s expertise and opinion. The majority of adults need between 6 and 9 hours of sleep per night in order to function well in the daytime, and the average range of time taken to fall asleep is between 10 to 30 minutes. It is normal to wake up from time to time at night so don’t worry if you do and try not to look at a clock as worrying and clock-watching can make getting back to sleep harder. Insomnia is more common in women and older people. The main causes are poor sleep routine or habits (known as sleep hygiene), a loud or light sleeping environment, stress, substance abuse, caffeine or alcohol use, and certain mental health or physical health conditions that can affect sleep.

Snoring is often described as a loud sound that occurs when you sleep. As you breathe in and out, air flows past the relaxed tissues in your throat. These relaxed tissues can partially block the airway and cause vibrations. Snoring is very common and not often related to anything more serious. The biggest complaint from snoring is often from the person’s partner. Snoring is more common in men than women and occurs commonly in people who are overweight. Being overweight or having larger tonsils can cause narrowing of the airways which also can lead to snoring. If you have any nasal problems like congestion or a family history of the medical condition obstructive sleep apnoea or you drink alcohol, you are also at higher risk of snoring.