Tickle in your throat? Snoring that wakes the dead? Soreness when you swallow? Here are some simple, but effective, solutions:

Snoring
"People who snore are blissfully ignorant - it's their bed partners who suffer," observes otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) Dr Craig Schwimmer, Medical Director of the Snoring Centre of Dallas in the US.

Losing weight can help, as can avoiding sedatives and alcohol before going to bed because they relax the tongue and palate.

According to a study at the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre in the US, 92 per cent of persistent-snoring cases can be fixed with an injection snoreplasty, a 10-minute procedure in which a chemical is injected into your palate to stiffen it.

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Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea is a full blockage of the airway, which wakes you up at least five times an hour.

As a result, you're at greater risk of hypertension and heart attack and seven times more likely to be in a car accident.

If the usual remedies fail, a doctor can use implants to extend your hard palate.

"It's no more painful than a trip to the dentist," reassures Schwimmer.

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Acid Reflux
"Heartburn" is actually caused by a weak muscle at the base of your oesophagus that lets stomach acid loose.

Raise the head of your bed five or so centimetres with two-by-fours "so that gravity works in your favour", suggests Dr Sanford Archer, an associate professor of otolaryngology at the University of Kentucky Medical Centre in the US.

If that doesn't work, consider an over-the-counter treatment like Zantac or Mylanta. Take it half-an-hour before your biggest meal.

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Sore throat
Grandma was right - lemon in tea is the best way to treat a sore throat.

"Anything sour will stimulate saliva flow," reveals Dr Michael Benninger, Chairman of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in the US.

Saliva helps control bacteria and lubricate the tissues. But if the problem persists, see your GP.

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Hoarse Voice
Talking all day can take a toll on your voice box. So pamper it: drink water and stretch.

"Fluids maintain clear mucus on your vocal cords, acting as a lubricant," according to Stephen Smith, a vocal instructor at the Juilliard School in New York.

Let out soft sighs that move up in pitch and back down for a count of three for 10 minutes in the morning.

If you need to speak loudly, keep your voice at the same pitch while projecting it further.

Raising your voice strains the vocal cords, which accelerates their natural hardening, warns Smith.