You might enjoy sharing a bed with your partner, but there’s something that makes it completely unbearable. It’s their snoring. If you deal with a partner who might be snoring a lot, then read on.
Dealing with loud noises such as snoring can also have an effect on your sleep as well. You may have trouble falling asleep and it can lead to sleep deprivation. You really don’t want to get through the day without a good night’s sleep (or lack of it).
We’ll be taking a look at the dangers of sleep deprivation plus provide you with solutions on how you can deal with a partner who snores. This way, you can be able to continue your sleep without interruption. Let’s get right to it.
How it affects your sleep quality/relationship quality?
As mentioned before, any snoring from your partner may cause you to stay up and struggle with sleep. Your brain may also pick up on signals that will tell them that it’s too noisy to fall asleep. When it finally comes time to snooze, it’s already 4 AM and you have to be up in two hours.
The dangers of sleep deprivation can lead to so many different health problems including the following:
- Weight gain
- Stroke or heart attack
- Dementia
- Weaker immunity
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
As you can see, the health issue includes two of the top causes of death in the United States. It’s not always a good idea to deprive yourself of any sleep (be it voluntary or otherwise). Even if you are a snorer yourself, you may be keeping your partner up.
To top it off, weight gain and snoring go hand in hand. When you gain weight to an almost unhealthy level, that’s when the likelihood of you snoring skyrockets. Don’t let depriving yourself and your partner of the sleep you need to be a two-way street.
If you think snoring can put a damper on your relationship with your partner, guess what…you’re right. In fact, snoring can be very stressful to handle. Even when lacking sleep, stress can really be amplified.
Snoring can even lead to divorce. Believe it or not, 300 divorced women in Australia were being surveyed about what triggered it. At least 15 to 20 percent of those who took the survey stated that their partner’s snoring was the sole reason why the marriage was dissolved.
But there has to be more to the story. Snoring leads to sleep deprivation and sleep deprivation leads to stress. Stress from a lack of sleep might even be the trigger of many fights between partners. It’s a vicious cycle that can be stopped so you and your partner can have a fulfilling relationship (rest included).
Why does he/she keep snoring at night?
There are plenty of reasons why your partner might be snoring at night. Fortunately, these can be reversed. Here are some potential reasons that can be linked to snoring:
- Weight gain: Weight gain and snoring are connected to each other. It can lead to various health problems including sleep apnea. The more weight you gain, the worse the issue can get. The increase in weight will put pressure on parts of your body including the neck and throat area.
- Sleeping in the wrong position: Sometimes, sleeping on your back can actually lead to snoring as opposed to sleeping on your side. If you or your partner snore, consider the idea of switching positions that will provide you with more comfort.
- Allergies: Snoring can actually be temporary. If you or your partner are dealing with allergies that result in consistent stuffiness, then snoring may occur (but not always). Be sure to clear your nasal passages prior to bedtime so you can breathe normally.
Solutions
What couples need to understand is that relationships are supposed to be a team effort. If your partner has a problem with something, you’ll need to do what you can to fix it (and vise versa). It’s better to solve the snoring problem together rather than never at all.
Here are some steps you and your partner can take so there are less snoring and more restful nights of sleep:
1. Identify the root problem
The solution here is simple: it’s important to make some lifestyle changes. Figure out what to eliminate from your diet and replace it with healthier alternatives. Start working out to drop the weight.
If you are dealing with sleep apnea, there’s a good chance that it can be reversible with weight loss. These changes can not only be beneficial for the health of your partner, but also for the health of the relationship.
2. Work together
If you want your partner to quit snoring, it’s an even better idea to be part of the solution yourself. If you want your partner to work out and lose weight, become their workout partner. Show them that you are with them every step of the way.
Who else but you can be your partner’s best cheerleader? This is also a good opportunity for you and your partner to build more trust and commitment that holds the relationship together. The two of you will feel more in love than ever before.
3. Test and tweak some ideas
Propping yourself up with extra pillows. Sleeping in different positions. There are ways to adjust yourself to ensure that snoring is minimal. If something is working, keep it that way…or if it doesn’t change it up.
4. Find a better mattress
If you and your partner have been sleeping on the same mattress for years, it’s probably time for a new one. SleepStandards, a company that publishes research-based sleep health reviews, strongly recommends that a mattress for couples should be a bit on the soft side (or just enough to be comfortable for side sleeping). That way, you can easily change positions and keep the snoring to a minimum.
Bonus points if you find a mattress that gives you plenty of comfort for the contours of your body.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to your relationship, don’t let snoring be the cause of its decline. If you’re bothered by your partner’s snoring, do whatever it takes to make sure that they do less of it so the both of you can get a good night’s sleep.
Use the tips above as a way to not only keep the long-term effects of snoring or sleep deprivation at bay but also strengthen the relationship in a way you never knew was possible.
Interesting Related Article: “Do you have snoring problems? Here is what you need to know“