Snoring May Ruin Your Relationship

Written by Manny Erlich on August 2, 2012. Posted in Snoring 101, Snoring and Your Bed Partner

Think snoring has no effect on your relationship? Think again.

Imagine yourself trying to drift into a restful night sleep next to your partner who sounds like a snorting hog.   Even if you are someone who falls asleep easily and sleeps soundly it would be near impossible and can get you pretty mad.

Loud snoring costs a bed partner, on average, one hour of sleep per night. Loss of sleep consequently may lead to a steady pattern of sleep deprivation, which can affect attention and memory and may even cause depression. Not to mention relationship difficulties that one or both partners may not even be consciously aware of.

A report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that approximately 35 percent of those tested in their study reported getting less than seven hours of sleep on average in a 24-hour period, 48 percent reported snoring and 38 percent reported falling asleep during the day.

Loud snoring may be caused by many problems.  For example, in children, snoring may be caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids. In adults snoring may be a symptom of relaxed neck muscles that cause the muscle tissues to collapse into the throat and obstruct the airway, or may also be a symptom of sleep apnea.

Now there is a big difference between simple snoring and sleep apnea.  Simple snoring is a slight disruption of airflow during sleep; it is annoying to others in the bedroom but usually does not present health risks to the snorer.  Simple snoring may be remedied with a variety of over-the-counter products, such as nose strips, aromatherapy, and special anti-snoring pillows.  Sometimes all what’s required is a simple change in your sleep position.  Sleeping on your side may provide a better airflow. (Visit our anti snoring devices section for reviews of the best products).

Sleep apnea, on the other hand, is a more dangerous condition.  With sleep apnea, your throat is severely blocked which deprives you of oxygen and sometimes causes you to stop breathing for up to 20 seconds at a time and putting a strain on your heart.  Additional problems resulting from sleep apnea may include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes, impotence, and many others.  There are several tell-tale signs of sleep apnea, such as a large neck, an overbite, decreased sex drive, poor concentration and memory, high cholesterol, depression and hypertension.

Many people don’t realize they have sleep apnea.  According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine an estimated 18 million people in the U.S. have sleep apnea but as many as 90 percent of them remain untreated. While simple snoring may be prevented with modest over-the-counter remedies, sleep apnea requires medical interventions which may include CPAP’s (special masks worn over the nose that forces moist air into the nostrils during sleep) or, oral appliances that improve airflow or even surgery.

The bottom line is this: loud snoring may be dangerous to you as well as to your sleeping partner.  So, for the sake of your relationships and your overall health, it is important that you learn how to stop snoring and address the issue by consulting with your dentist, doctor or healthcare provider.

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Manny Erlich

International Foundation of Employee Benefits - Certified Employee Benefits Specialist