If you’re a loud snorer, it can have a significant impact on the people in your life. Almost six in ten people snore and most of them report that it bothers people around them. Snoring causes tension in relationships. Spouses and sleep mates often lose sleep because of their partner’s snoring, and this is something many couples argue about. Snoring can turn the bedroom into a place of contention instead of a haven of intimacy. When it becomes too difficult to sleep, a sleep partner will often end up sleeping in a different room. Many couples end up sleeping apart regularly due to snoring. Over half of the couples who sleep in different rooms every night we’re prompted to make this move due to snoring.
Snoring Damages Your Sleep Partner’s Health
Sharing a bed with a heavy snorer can cause you to miss out on a significant amount of sleep. Sleep deprivation is a serious issue, and there’s a substantial amount of research that demonstrates how it can impair your health.
The medical effects of sleeping with a heavy snorer are similar to the way sleep apnea affects your health. People who miss out on sleep due to their partner’s snoring can suffer the following consequences:
- Daytime sleepiness and lethargy
- Weight gain
- Higher risk of heart disease, strokes, and diabetes
- Reduced libido
- Impaired memory and mental function
- Anxiety and depression
- Higher risk for automobile accidents
Strategies for Sleeping with a Heavy Snorer
Many sleep partners develop strategies to sleep with a heavy snorer. They often try to fall asleep before their sleep mate begins to snore. People are most likely to snore when sleeping on their back. Sometimes it’s possible to reduce snoring by nudging the snorer to turn onto their side.
One technique to reduce snoring is to sleep wearing a t-shirt backward and placing a tennis ball inside the pocket. That way, sleepers train themselves not to sleep on their back.
White noise machines and earplugs are often an effective way to block out the noise from your snoring partner in order to get a restful night’s sleep. But many people are reluctant to use earplugs because it might cause them to miss important sounds, such as an alarm clock or a child crying during the night.
Relief for Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Heavy snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, which is a serious medical condition. Sleep apnea occurs when the patient stops breathing several times during the night, substantially diminishing the amount of oxygen getting to their brain.
Dr. Reece provides effective treatments for snoring and sleep apnea. Call 979-846-6515 today to schedule a visit with Dr. Reece and we’ll make sure you get the right diagnosis and the best possible care.