Revealed: What really causes you to snore and feel sleepy during the day

Pollution could be to blame for heavy snoring and sleepiness during the day, scientists have found.

A study of 12,000 people found that those exposed to traffic pollution were more likely to snore and more likely to be sleepy in the daytime.

Heavy snoring was more likely to affect men and sleepiness more likely to affect women.

Researchers believe that toxic engine fumes and noise from busy roads disrupts people’s sleeping habits, the Sunday Times reported.

Epidemiologist at Bergen University in Norway, Ane Johannessen, who worked on the study, said: “We know that people exposed to cigarette smoking are more likely to snore.

“So we wondered if the toxins from traffic pollution might also be linked to snoring.”

She added: “It is likely that air pollution can cause snoring through airway inflammation...

“One could speculate whether women who have husbands who snore experience more daytime sleepiness but the key is understanding the impact of pollution.”

Professor Stephen Holgate, science council chairman of the European Respiratory Society, where the findings will be presented this week has called on the government to bring in a “Clean Air Act”.

He said living near a busy road is about as bad for lungs as smoking 10 cigarettes per day.