VHI’s Dr Bernadette Carr

My husband who is aged 45 years has always snored. Recently I noticed that he seems to be holding his breath at times although he is still asleep. Should he go to his GP?

Snoring is very common and can affect anyone at any time (including children) but particularly those aged 40-60 years and twice as many men compared to women.

Snoring is the noise made either when there is an obstruction to the free flow of air through the passages at the back of the mouth or the nose or the tongue and upper throat come into contact and vibrate during breathing. Some people snore occasionally whilst others snore every night and loudly.

I would advise that your husband makes an appointment with his GP so that the reason for the breath-holding is investigated. His GP can examine him, discuss possible reasons for the snoring and rule out any underlying medical condition.

In the meantime, here are some general lifestyle suggestions for him to try:

* Stop smoking.

* Lose weight if he is overweight.

* Spend adequate time in bed.

* Reduce or abstain from alcohol consumption.

* Take regular exercise. If your husband has not exercised for some time, then he should discuss this first with his GP.

* Sleeping on your back may make snoring more likely. A pillow wedged behind his back may prevent your husband sleeping on his back. Alternately, he could tape a tennis ball to his back.

It would be useful for his GP if you went in with your husband for part of his consultation — you could describe what you have heard and noticed and the frequency.

Your husband should bring details of all medication he is taking, prescribed and over the counter.

I am sure that his GP will be able to reassure you both.

Is it possible to prevent cold sores? I have had cold sores twice in the last six months. On both occasions I was busy at work and possibly stressed.

Cold sores can be very tender and painful and these episodes must have been upsetting for you. They usually resolve without any treatment but this can take seven to 10 days and begin with an itch or tingling, this can last from several hours or up to a day.

Cold sores appear as groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth and are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and the incubation period is one to 26 days. Once you have had a cold sore, the virus settles in to a nearby nerve sheath and stays there for the rest of your life.

For the majority of the time, it is inactive and causes no symptoms. It becomes active from time to time and causes cold sore blisters around the mouth having a variable recurrence rate and may be associated with chest infections, emotional stress, menstruation and exposure to sun.

Anti-viral creams are available and these may help to reduce the severity of the symptoms if they are applied when the itch or tingling begins. It is not possible to completely prevent cold sores but here are some suggestions to prevent them from spreading:

* Make sure that you do not to touch the cold sores — only touch them when applying antiviral creams and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards.

* Avoid sharing cups or lip balms.

If using antiviral cream, dab it on rather than rubbing it on to the sore to prevent damage to the blisters or cause more pain.

* Using a sunblock on your lips may help to prevent cold sores triggered by exposure to sunshine.

When our bodies are placed under stress or our immune system is low, the likelihood of a cold sore flare-up is more likely to occur. Try to relax and include some form of relaxation in your daily routine, and ensure you get a good night’s sleep.

I would suggest making an appointment with your GP who can advise you as to how to manage any future outbreaks.