OVERVIEW

Sleeping Without Snoring forms part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar, a coordinated programme of national public education presented by The Sleep Society to improve sleep health awareness across Canada.

Snoring is common and is often dismissed as little more than an inconvenience or source of humour. For the bed partner, however, it can become a source of stress that is almost unbearable. Habitual snoring is far from benign and can have important consequences for both the person who snores and the person (who is trying) to sleep beside them. For the bed partner, repeated noise and sleep disruption may contribute to sleep deprivation, daytime fatigue, impaired concentration, irritability, anxiety and reduced quality of life.

Snoring may also be a sign of an underlying sleep-related breathing disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea. By encouraging people to take persistent snoring seriously, this initiative aims to improve awareness, encourage appropriate assessment and help individuals and their partners achieve healthier, quieter and more restorative sleep.

WHY IT MATTERS

Not everyone who snores has obstructive sleep apnea, but snoring is one of its most common symptoms. When snoring is accompanied by witnessed pauses in breathing, choking or gasping during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness or other symptoms, appropriate assessment becomes particularly important.

The consequences of snoring can also extend beyond the individual. A bed partner repeatedly awakened by snoring may experience fragmented sleep and its associated effects on mood, concentration, daytime functioning, relationships and quality of life.

There is also emerging research investigating whether the mechanical vibration associated with heavy, long-term snoring may contribute to changes in the carotid arteries and potentially influence cardiovascular risk. This remains an evolving area of research and should not be presented as an established consequence of snoring. What is already clear is that persistent snoring deserves greater recognition, particularly when other symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing are present.

BACKGROUND

Sleeping Without Snoring is observed throughout October as part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar. The initiative promotes greater public understanding of snoring, its impact on individuals and their partners, and its potential relationship with sleep-related breathing disorders.

Historically, snoring has often been regarded as embarrassing, amusing or simply something a bed partner has to tolerate. Sleep medicine has changed that perspective. Snoring occurs when airflow through the upper airway causes surrounding tissues to vibrate during sleep. In some people it occurs without significant airway obstruction; in others, it may form part of a spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing that includes obstructive sleep apnea.

The important message is not that every person who snores has a medical disorder, but that persistent or disruptive snoring should not automatically be ignored. Appropriate assessment can help determine its significance and, where necessary, guide evidence-based treatment.

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CURRENT ACTIVITIES

The Sleep Society and SleepSafeCanada are currently working to:

• Promote greater public understanding of snoring and its potential effects on sleep, health, relationships and quality of life.
• Increase awareness that habitual snoring may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea or another sleep-related breathing disorder.
• Encourage recognition of warning signs including witnessed breathing pauses, choking or gasping during sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness.
• Increase awareness of the effects that disruptive snoring can have on the sleep and wellbeing of bed partners.
• Promote informed, evidence-based assessment and treatment of persistent snoring and sleep-disordered breathing.
• Support and encourage research into the possible relationship between long-term snoring vibration, vascular changes and cardiovascular health.
• Develop educational resources for the public, healthcare professionals and community organisations.
• Support annual awareness activities throughout October as part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar.
• Encourage collaboration with healthcare organisations, universities, professional associations, governments and industry.
• Build partnerships and national support to improve awareness of snoring and sleep-disordered breathing across Canada.

ENDORSEMENTS

We welcome the endorsement of governments, healthcare organisations, universities, professional associations and community organisations that support the aims of this initiative and greater public understanding of snoring and sleep-related breathing disorders.

PARTNERS

We collaborate with organisations that actively support the development, delivery and promotion of this initiative through education, research, collaboration and public engagement.

SUPPORTERS

We gratefully acknowledge organisations, businesses and individuals who support the aims of this initiative and help raise awareness within their communities and networks.

SPONSORS

We gratefully recognise organisations whose financial or in-kind support helps make this initiative possible and extends its reach across Canada.

RESOURCES

Access articles, fact sheets, videos, posters and downloadable resources relating to snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, sleep-disordered breathing and healthy sleep.

SleepSafeCanada

Canada’s National Sleep Health Awareness Initiative

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SleepSafeCanada promotes public awareness of the importance of healthy sleep through Canada’s Sleep Calendar, national education campaigns, community engagement and public health initiatives that encourage healthier, safer and more productive lives.

A Better Sleep

Your Trusted Sleep Information Resource

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For additional public information, articles and downloadable resources relating to this initiative, please visit abettersleep.net. The site provides trusted, evidence-based information to help people better understand snoring, healthy sleep, sleep disorders and the lifelong importance of healthy sleep.

The Sleep Society

Canada’s Interdisciplinary Sleep Health Community

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The Sleep Society brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, organisations and industry to advance sleep health through collaboration, education and research. Visitors can explore professional education, connect with Canada’s growing interdisciplinary sleep health community and locate healthcare professionals with an interest in sleep health.

GET INVOLVED

Help raise awareness of the initiative by sharing information and encouraging people to recognise that persistent snoring should not simply be dismissed as a nuisance. Greater awareness can help individuals and their partners recognise when assessment may be appropriate and take steps towards healthier, quieter and more restorative sleep.

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MEDIA CENTRE

Access news, media releases, campaign updates and other information relating to Sleeping Without Snoring.

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TOGETHER

The Sleep Society has selected Web Hosting Canada as its Strategic Technology Partner, supporting the continued development, delivery and national growth of this initiative while helping build the digital infrastructure needed to support future collaboration across Canada.

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