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What to Do About Your Partner’s Snoring

Submitted by New Jersey Snoring Solutions on Tue 10/26/2021 - 09:00
Sleep apnea treatment in New Jersey

Excessive snoring can wreak havoc on a relationship. Many people may not realize that their partner’s snoring issues are more than an annoyance. Loud, constant snoring is a major sign of sleep apnea, a potentially fatal health problem. Drs. Ivan and Allan Stein of New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions explain what you can do about your partner’s snoring and how to get them to seek help.

Snoring and Partners

Chronic snoring that wakes a partner and keeps them up is detrimental to that person’s health. Long-term sleep deprivation raises the risk of developing various diseases, from dementia to heart disease to cancer. Insufficient sleep increases the odds of obesity, a condition accompanied by other health challenges. Lack of sleep also takes a toll on a couple’s emotional health.

Think of it as a quality-of-life issue.

Change Position

If the snoring is worst when the person sleeps on their back — and that is often the case — gently prod them to change position. Rolling onto the stomach can mean the end of snoring.

Try bringing a tennis ball or similar item without hard edges to bed. When the person is fast asleep and snoring, place the ball beneath their back. This should make them shift to another position, and the snoring may cease.

Lifestyle Changes

Certain sleep and lifestyle changes can help the affected partner. The non-snorer may benefit from the use of earplugs to drown out the noise. Look for soft earplugs designed specifically to wear while sleeping.

Install a white noise machine in the bedroom. While the machine does not block out snoring per se, it does mask the sound considerably.

For some couples, sleeping separately may prove the ultimate solution. That’s a step to take only when nothing else appears to work. Still, for some couples stressed by one party’s snoring, separate bedrooms can save the relationship.

Identifying the Cause

When constant snoring is a problem, identifying the cause is crucial. Many sleep apnea sufferers visit a doctor on their partner’s recommendation. A medical evaluation and a sleep study may reveal sleep apnea. Patients with sleep apnea stop and start breathing repeatedly while sleeping. Snoring is a common sign of obstructive sleep apnea, resulting from the intermittent closing of throat muscles causing airway blockage.

Once a definite diagnosis is in place, proper treatment can start. That may include the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine or an oral appliance to keep the patient’s airway clear during sleep. In some instances, surgery is necessary.

Call or Email Us Today

For more information about snoring, sleep apnea and ways to help a partner who snores excessively, please contact the team at New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions today.