Do You Snore? A New Survey Reveals 53 Percent of People with the Sleep Disorder Live in the Northeast

Do you snore or sleep in the same house as someone who snores? If so, there's a strong possibility you live in the Northeast. According to a new survey, which was conducted by OnePoll for the nasal dilator brand Mute, 53 percent of residents in New York, Washington, D.C., Connecticut, and nearby states keep their partners and roommates awake with their snores, which is more than any other region of the country. "Sleep is critically important for our physical and mental health," Dr. Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., a campaign ambassador for Mute, said in a statement. "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.

The researchers polled 2,000 adults to obtain their results and revealed that the sleep disorder affects the day-to-day lives of 46 percent of adults who snore or live with a snorer. Of that group, 25 percent say they have snapped at someone, and 11 percent have turned to sugary foods to keep them awake. While this is bad news for residents on the Northeast, those living in the West are least likely to snore with 47 percent of respondents admitting to the habit.

So, who is the biggest culprit? According to the survey, men (57 percent) are more likely to snore than women (46 percent). When it comes to the age group with the biggest snorers, 59 percent are between 45 and 54, 56 percent are 35 to 44, and 54 percent are between 55 and 64. Additionally, the study finds that 21 percent of people who snore let out a growl like sound, while others roar (10 percent), and some sound like a train (10 percent). In fact, even snores resembling Darth Vader makes an appearance in eight percent of households.

To get their partners to stop snoring, 39 percent of respondents resort to nudging, kicking, and elbowing. The survey also finds that 31 percent of adults wake the snorer up while 23 percent opt to sleep in a different room, and 13 percent use earplugs. These drastic measures aren't surprising when you consider the fact that 23 percent of survey participants think their partners snoring is the most annoying sound when they are trying to fall asleep. "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," Dr. Breus says.