Sleep-disordered breathing is common and encompasses snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome and sleep apnoea. Our upper airway anatomy may predispose us to this condition, but weight gain makes it much more likely. By interfering with quality of sleep, sleep apnoea often leads to daytime sleepiness and poor concentration. Chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and depression are more likely if sleep apnoea is left untreated. Sleep-disordered breathing commonly causes insomnia and should therefore be considered in anyone who struggles to sleep. Frequent night time awakening to pass urine may also be explained by untreated sleep apnoea. And of course anti-social snoring can be embarrassing as well as disruptive to others.