A British man tragically lost his life after attempting to use tampons to halt his snoring.
Mark Gleeson, aged just 26, died following a visit to the doctor to address his snoring issues.
The problem developed after Mark was involved in a road accident, which resulted in sinus complications.
His snoring was so severe that his mother, Vera, mentioned that the family “used to treat it as a joke at home.” However, when he consulted the doctor, he was reportedly told there was “not a lot they [could] do about it.”
After his appointment, Mark discussed potential solutions to his snoring with his girlfriend, Tracey Lambert.
They contemplated using tampons to block Mark’s nose to reduce the noise. Unfortunately, this method proved fatal when he fell asleep with the tampons in place.
During the inquest following his death in January 1996, Tracey recalled that they had discussed the tampon idea the night before he passed away, as reported by The Herald.
Mark had consumed some wine and taken a few sleeping tablets. Tracey left him asleep on the sofa at her residence in Surrey, England.
Upon returning to the room, she discovered Mark dead with the tampons in his nose.
“It just happened,” she testified at the inquest. “The conversation just came up about the snoring and we both agreed that was what he would do.”
Pathologist Dr. Peter Jackson concluded that Mark’s death was due to asphyxiation partly caused by the tampons, with sleeping tablets exacerbating his breathing difficulties.
Coroner Michael Burgess deemed Mark’s death accidental.
Snoring is often linked to a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. Apple aims to assist in identifying this condition with its upcoming Apple Watch Series 10, which can be further investigated by medical professionals.
According to the Mayo Clinic, men are more prone to snoring or sleep apnea than women. Doctors may recommend various lifestyle adjustments to manage snoring.
Suggestions include weight loss, avoiding alcohol near bedtime, treating nasal congestion, and not sleeping on one’s back.
There are also medical devices and surgical options available for those who snore, although the clinic notes that these interventions might not be suitable or necessary for everyone.