If you snore, it may be a sign of a problem such as sleep apnoea, but for many people, this is not the case. However, that will come as cold comfort for whoever shares the bed with you each night.

Snoring may not be something you do deliberately, but it can be a relationship issue, according to Independent columnist Lucy Anna Gray. She wrote that the biggest problem of cohabiting with her boyfriend was not one she had anticipated. Rather than sharing bills, laundry arrangements, or paying bills, it was snoring.

“Partners of serial snorers will know the immense frustration of just nodding off, only to be instantly woken by a guttural snort,” she noted, adding that her boyfriend is a particularly loud snorer and even using earplugs and a pillow over her ears “doesn’t cut it”.

While she was not talking in terms of ending the relationship, Ms Gray was echoing the experience of millions of people whose partners can keep them awake by snoring. This is where a custom-made anti-snoring device could be a major relationship enhancer.

As with so many things, there are people out there who offer homespun ‘life hack’ solutions; the Daily Express recently reported on the tennis ball idea. This involves strapping it to the back of the snorer, as this means it will be too uncomfortable for them to lie on their back, a position many are prone to snoring in.

This idea was mentioned in Ms Gray’s article too, but while it may be effective, it is not very comfortable for the snorer; they could end up swapping roles with their partner as the one who keeps on being woken up in the night.

That is why having an anti-snoring device fitted could offer the best of all worlds; relief from snoring for both partners, so you can both get a great night’s sleep and avoid unnecessary relationship tension.