I am a 69-year-old woman with a long-standing snoring problem. I’ve spoken to doctors about it to no avail. I get embarrassed when I go on holiday and stay in hotel rooms, knowing that other people can hear me. Can you help me?

Dr Ellie replies: We don’t often talk about snoring in women, but we should – it affects them just as often as men. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to get effective treatment through the GP, as there are limited options available.

Referral is usually only possible in cases of sleep apnoea, where breathing stops during sleep.

Some underlying issues, such as nasal polyps, allergies or smoking-related inflammation in the airways, can be addressed. In these cases, nasal sprays, drops or antihistamines may help.

I often recommend seeing a dentist, as they can provide custom-made devices called mandibular advancement devices. They improve airflow by reducing vibration in the mouth, resemble a mouth guard and are worn overnight.

It may also be worth trying over-the-counter options such as nasal strips or dilators. While snoring noise comes from the mouth and throat, blocked nasal passages can worsen it by forcing more air through the mouth. Improving nasal airflow can make a difference.

It’s important to trial each option separately to see what works. Training the body to sleep on its side and using a pillow between the knees can help, which can help stabilise your posture and limit snoring. Avoiding alcohol and smoking is also important.

Snoring affects women just as often as men. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to get effective treatment through the GP, as there are limited options, says Dr Ellie (picture posed by model)

I’m short-sighted and regularly get ‘eye floaters’. Recently I’ve started to experience flashes of blue light in my peripheral vision. This usually happens when I’m tired. Should I be concerned?

Dr Ellie replies: Eye flashes and floaters should always be checked out by an optician or GP. This is especially important if they are new or in somebody who is short-sighted.

Floaters are dark spots that temporarily appear in the vision. They usually move about the eye and can look like a net or cobweb. They are caused by shadows of fibres in the jelly inside the eye. They aren’t typically harmful but do get more common later in life.

Repeated flashes of light can be a sign of a retinal tear or detachment. The retina is the thin, light-sensitive layer behind the pupil. Sometimes this can tear or entirely detach. It is unclear why but older adults and people with vision problems are most at risk.

When the retina detaches it is important patients seek urgent medical attention at their local eye hospital. Left untreated, it can lead to permanent vision loss.

Flashes – usually likened to an old-fashioned camera flash – and a sudden increase in the number of floaters are the most common symptoms of a detached retina.

But some people have flashes that are not caused by anything serious. Anyone who has had cataract surgery – to replace the eye lens – is more likely to get floaters and flashes. These are symptoms that some migraine patients experience too.

I’ve had incontinence since 2014. I wasn’t given HRT after a hysterectomy at 30, but finally started it at 65. I’ve tried bulking surgery and private Botox with no success. I’ve read laser therapy could help, but there’s an 18-month NHS wait. I feel so low – it’s not like me. Any advice?

Dr Ellie replies: Incontinence is a difficult issue because it is stigmatising and embarrassing – as well as uncomfortable and inconvenient.

We would now use HRT if you have a hysterectomy. You should be on an oestrogen-only HRT, which may help, either as a tablet or patch. But what would be even more crucial is vaginal oestrogen, which is known to be particularly good for postmenopausal issues, including urinary incontinence.

It is proven that using oestrogen vaginally is better for these types of issues, and you should ask your doctor to prescribe this – or buy it over the counter.

Oestrogen can be used vaginally either as a cream or a vaginal tablet called a pessary. It can also be used as something called an oestrogen ring, which sits in the vagina and is changed every three months. Women find this helpful for incontinence.

Oestrogen is known to be important for the health and functioning of the urethra and bladder, and proper replacement of the hormone can help with these symptoms.

Another valuable idea is to see a pelvic floor physiotherapist, sometimes called a women’s health physiotherapist. Rather than simply doing pelvic floor exercises yourself, which are difficult to get right, consulting a physiotherapist can help to improve the pelvic floor muscles responsible for control of urine.

They what are known as biofeedback devices to make sure you’re doing the exercises properly. It can make a massive difference to a woman’s life.

Good incontinence products can help people feel confident and secure when going out. Ask your GP to refer you to the local bladder service for advice from incontinence nurses.

Information is available at Bladder and Bowel UK online.

Asthma worsens in thunderstorms, with high pollen counts and in colder weather. Experts have blamed the recent rise in asthma attacks on air pollution (picture posed by model)

Is your asthma worse than ever this year? 

Reports of asthma attacks are up 45 per cent year on year, according to a worrying survey published last week.

Commenting on the findings, experts blamed worsening air pollution – but would that really account for such a sharp rise?

We take asthma attacks seriously because, while common, they are a sign that the condition isn’t being properly controlled by medication.

And they can be fatal.

Air pollution is a trigger. We also know asthma worsens in certain conditions such as thunderstorms, high pollen counts and in colder weather.

My big worry is that access to drugs might be an issue. Have you noticed your asthma worsening? Write to me at the address below and let me know.

Missed chance to fight obesity 

Tackling obesity was once again top of the agenda with the Government’s new Ten Year Health Plan.

Among various ideas, it suggested restaurant chains should report the average number of calories their customers consume. The data ‘would be used to encourage fast-food giants to improve the healthiness of their offerings and reduce overall calorie consumption’, the plan claims.

I think it’s admirable they are trying. But I’m worried these kinds of initiatives don’t grasp the complexity of why so many of us are overweight. Not too long ago there was the order to have calories printed on all menus – which recent research revealed hasn’t made a jot of difference to what people order.

But I’m interested to know how you feel about this. Do you reckon it’ll help? Or is this yet another nannying intervention destined to fail? Write and tell me what you think.

Do you have a question for Dr Ellie Cannon? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk. Dr Cannon cannot enter into personal correspondence and her replies should be taken in a general context.