According to a recent study, children whose parents snore have a three-fold increased risk of being noisy sleepers themselves.

Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre in Ohio studied 681 infants with an average age of 12 months. They found that children with at least one parent who snored frequently were three times more likely to snore than those without snoring parents.

Dr Maninder Kalra, who led the research, said that the study underlined the link between regular snoring and genetic make-up. The findings were published in the journal Chest, published by the American College of Chest Physicians

UK experts suggest the link may not always be an hereditary one.  Professor Jim Horne, director of the Loughborough Sleep Research Centre, suggested that it was possible the link between family snoring behaviour was because of obesity.   "Half of snoring is caused by being overweight, so it is likely that this could explain why this pattern has emerged."

Regardless of the cause, everyone agrees that treatment is necessary.  “Snoring is the primary symptom of sleep-disordered breathing, which in children is associated with learning disabilities and metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. Early detection and treatment can potentially reduce the incidence of morbidity (disease) due to sleep-disordered breathing in children,” Dr Kalra said.

Questionable Science Behind Snoring Products

Many anti-snoring products such as nasal strips and special pillows lack scientific proof that they actually work, a consumer study shows.

An investigation by Choice magazine has found limited scientific evidence to support claims made by manufacturers.  Choice assessed the evidence for nasal strips and dilators, special pillows, essential oils and homeopathic products by consulting medical experts - after asking the manufacturers to support claims of their products' effectiveness.

The research found nasal strips and dilators might help a small number of people whose snoring was caused by certain types of nasal obstruction.  But sleep experts considered most evidence for the strips and dilators to be either contradictory or too subjective, Choice said.

There was no good evidence to support the claims for two special pillows examined, and experts doubted that a pillow could hold someone's neck in an appropriate position all night, the study found.

An ear, nose and throat specialist told the magazine the methodology for the trials of aromatherapy products like essential oils was unreliable.   The Australian Homeopathic Association also questioned the "one cure fits all" approach of over-the-counter anti-snoring products, Choice said.

CPAP, surgical intervention and professionally fitted oral appliances were listed as effective treatments for sleep disordered breathing conditions.  Oral appliance therapy (OAT), as delivered through The Sleep Therapy Clinics, is now endorsed by the Academy of Sleep Medicine as first line treatment for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnoea.

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