By SWNS Staff
NEWS COPY W/ VIDEO + INFOGRAPHIC
Americans in the Northeast are the worst snorers in the U.S., according to new research.
A study of 2,000 adults found 53% of residents in New York, Washington D.C., Connecticut and the surrounding states keep their partners and housemates awake with the nocturnal noise more than any other region.
But while it can sometimes be seen as something to laugh about, 46% of adults who snore or live with a snorer in the Northeast are so tired that it has affected their day-to-day lives.
Of those, 25% have snapped at someone, and more than one in 10 (11%) have turned to high fat or sugary foods to keep them awake.
Conversely, those in the West are least likely to snore, with just 47% admitting to the annoying habit.
Commissioned by nasal dilator brand Mute and conducted by OnePoll, the study also revealed that of 51% of U.S. adults who snore, men are the biggest culprits: 57% of guys admitted to being a snorer, compared to just 46% of women.
And when it comes to age, the study shows that 59% of snorers are aged 45 to 54, 56% are 35 to 44, and 54% are 55 to 64.
The study also found “a growl” is the most common way people have had their snoring described to them (21%), while 16% have been told it resembles the sound of a saw.
Other comparisons include a roar (10%), a train (10%), and even "Star Wars" villian Darth Vader (8%).
“Sleep is critically important for our physical and mental health,” explained the “Sleep Doctor” Dr. Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., a campaign ambassador for Mute. “While snoring might seem like a light-hearted and funny occurrence, it can have a significant impact on the quality and length of people’s sleep, and it seems those in the Northeast are faring worse than most.
“If you are the one being kept awake by snoring, it can be infuriating and leave you struggling the next day due to the time spent trying to nod off. But it can also mean the person snoring is not getting the best quality sleep either, whether that’s from waking themselves up or from having their partner nudge them in the night.”
Nudging, kicking and elbowing are the most common actions partners of snorers take to quiet the din (39%).
The survey shows 31% wake the snorer up while 23% move to a different room and 13% use earplugs.
These findings are perhaps not surprising, given the survey also found nearly a quarter (23%) of adults think their partner’s snoring is the most annoying noise when they are awake at night or trying to get to sleep.
Compared to other annoying habits, snoring ranks at the top of the list (21%), closely followed by leaving clothes and shoes lying around (20%) and spending too much time on their phone (20%).
For nearly one in 10 (9%), the noise has been so bad they have even sought help from a medical professional for their or their partner’s snoring.
Snoring aside, the survey also revealed respondents get an average of less than six hours of sleep a night and 37% are unhappy with the quality of it.
Americans also suffer disrupted sleep four nights per week.
“Snoring can be so disruptive to our sleep, whether we’re the snorer or our partner is," said John Ende, executive vice president at Rhinomed, the makers of nasal dilator Mute. “In fact, our global report, designed to get under the skin of snoring and sleeping habits across the U.K., U.S. and Australia, shows snoring is rattling nerves – and perhaps windows—in households around the globe.”
“Millions of people worldwide are affected by snoring. Sadly, it is often regarded as something you have to put up with despite there being a wide range of solutions, many completely natural and drug-free, to help," added Ende. “Freeing up the airways to improve your breathing while you sleep is one way some snorers — and their partners — can enjoy a quiet night’s sleep.”
Top 10 ways people have had their snore described:
- A growl
- A saw
- A roar
- A train
- Darth Vader
- Thunder
- A bumblebee
- A car
- A jackhammer/ pneumatic drill
- A drill
Top 10 things people have done as a result of their/ their partner’s snoring
- Kicked/ nudged/ elbowed them
- Woke them up
- Moved to another room to sleep
- Slept on the sofa
- Gone to bed at a different time to your partner/spouse
- Worn ear plugs/ used a noise cancelling machine to block out the noise
- Videoed/ recorded them to prove they have been snoring
- Made your partner/spouse sleep somewhere else
- Shouted at them
- Pinched their nose to wake them up/ stop them snoring
