For countless couples across the UK, the nightly soundtrack of a partner's snoring is a familiar and deeply frustrating barrier to a good night's rest. While one person lies awake staring at the ceiling, the other slumbers peacefully, seemingly oblivious to the racket they are creating. Now, a medical expert has explained the science behind this common nocturnal paradox.
The Brain's Clever Noise Filter
According to Dr Manish Shah, a general practitioner and dentist from the Sydney Centre for TMJ and Sleep Therapy, snorers do actually hear the sounds they make. However, their brains have developed a sophisticated filtering system. Over time, the brain becomes accustomed to the sound of its own snoring through a process called habituation.
"The snoring sound you produce is filtered out because your ears and your entire system are used to that sound," Dr Shah explained. He added that the brain prioritises restfulness, meaning it will not trigger the body to wake up in response to this now-familiar, low-priority noise. This is why a person can sleep through their own loud snoring but be jolted awake by an unusual sound, like a bang from the kitchen or a rattle on the roof.
"This activity in the brain explains why you can be awakened by subtle noises but not by your loud snoring," Dr Shah said. These external sounds are classified as 'high-priority' signals that activate the brain's defence mechanism.
Micro-Awakenings and Health Warnings
While snorers generally remain asleep, Dr Shah notes that some do experience brief, unconscious awakenings lasting only seconds. "The snorer can go back to sleep again after that," he stated. "The fact that snorers can go back to sleep is why many of them don't even remember waking up."
Although often just an annoyance for bed partners, habitual loud snoring can be a red flag for a serious medical condition. Chronic snoring caused by a blocked airway at the back of the mouth can be a primary symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
This condition, which affects between four and 10 per cent of people in the UK, causes breathing to stop for 10 to 30 seconds at a time. These repeated interruptions put significant strain on the heart, dramatically raising the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Dr Shah distinguishes between casual and habitual snoring. "Casual snoring is common and usually nothing to worry about," he concluded. "However, habitual snoring is something that you should not ignore."
The key indicator for seeking help is the impact on daily life. The general rule is that you should see a doctor once snoring affects your sleep quality and causes daytime sleepiness.
He also emphasised the relational toll, noting, "It might seem trivial, but snoring can affect relationships, especially when it impacts your partner's well-being." Treatment for OSA ranges from lifestyle changes like weight loss to using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices or Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD) to keep the airway open during sleep.
