TURIN - Spouses who have to plug their ears because of their better halfs' snoring are to get a break now that Italy has opened a so-called 'night hospital' for people with sleep disorders .

The new unit at Turin's Molinette Hospital takes in sufferers for all-night tests and releases them the next morning, so they don't lose working days .

"We thought we'd flank our day hospital with a unit we jokingly called Night Hospital," said Sleep Disorders chief Alessandro Cicolin .

"It allows us to do thorough tests without making people stay during the day" .

Previously, patients with clinically serious sleep disorders such as continuous snoring and sleep apnea had to spend continuous time in hospital .

About 10 percent of people suffer from sleep disorders ranging from insomnia to hypersomnia, or sleeping too much .

The conditions have a great impact on quality of life and ability to work - as well as posing dangers for drivers and those who have to operate heavy machinery .