If you often find yourself counting sheep with a pillow pressed up against your ear to block out your partner's snores, you'r...
Couples have shared the most outrageous things they've done to stop their partner snoring - and it seems that a simple jab in the ribs and kick in the shins is no longer sufficient.
New research reveals that 90 per cent of people in Nigeria live with a snoring partner and this figure rises to a staggering 97 per cent if you lived outside.
It seems that many are willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure they get their snore-free shut eye.
One particular partner from Ghana admitted that she resorts to 'pulling out underarm hairs' to stop her partner from snoring, whereas in Lagos one person resorts to 'keeping a toy horn by the bed to give a quick, sharp noise to wake them up'.
one person said they resort to 'sellotaping their partners lips shut' whilst another from Enugu resorts to 'putting a smelly sock next to their partners face' to keep them from snoring.
It seems that nothing is off limits when it comes to getting a decent night's sleep as alarmingly someone from Ibadan resorts to 'suffocating them with a pillow, but only for a few seconds'.
In an attempt to quieten their partner's nasal noises, others admit: 'I've bitten him on the arm before', and 'I've put a clothes peg on the nose, it always works'.
Another wife revealed: 'I got him to sleep with a tennis ball in the waist band of his pyjamas to stop him from rolling onto their back', with one partner admitting they'd gone as far as kicking their bed buddy in the face.
Other methods included pouring a glass of cold water on their partner and putting them outside on a balcony, revealed the research by The Good Night Anti-Snoring Ring.
FIVE WAYS TO STOP SNORING
1. USE A TENNIS BALL
People who sleep on their side are less susceptible to snoring, say experts. When one sleeps on their back, the excess tissue from the tongue and chin can squash the airway, obstructing breathing and in turn making an awful racket.
Sewing a ball into a pocket on the back of pyjama tops will make it uncomfortable to lie on the back and force snorers into lying on their sides instead. Anyone for tennis?
2. JOIN A CHOIR
A study carried out by the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in 2013 found that singing can be used to reduce the risk of snoring, as supposedly, a lack of tone in the throat muscles can be a major cause.
Singing acts almost like an exercise routine for these muscles... so join a choir to strengthen them up.
3. RINSE AWAY
Instead of rinsing your mouth with traditional mouthwash, try an anti-snoring throat rinse. They help to tighten and lubricate the muscles in the back of the throat - reducing your chances of snoring...not only will your sleep be sounder, but you'll also have minty-fresh breath.
4. DO SOME TONGUE AEROBICS
Research shows that doing certain facial and tongue exercises every day can reduce your chances of snoring and suffering from snoring-related conditions like sleep apnoea - a condition caused by relaxed muscles that can see the airways blocked for up to 10 seconds, throughout the night.
How to do tongue aerobics: Stick your tongue out and try and touch your chin. Then, extend your tongue upwards and attempt to reach your nose. And repeat!
5. BUY A REALLY LONG NOVEL
It's time to get your copy of War and Peace. Not to read, but to stick under your mattress. Propping the top of your mattress up and making sure that you sleep with your head raised means that your tongue can’t drop back and obstruct your airway when you’re asleep.
