If you snore, it can have a huge impact on your quality of sleep and overall well-being. Snoring doesn’t just affect you, however. If you have a sleep partner, his or her rest is also disrupted, and they – and your relationship – can also suffer negative effects. In fact, many times your partner is aware that you’re snoring before you are.
In this blog, the ear, nose, and throat specialists at eos sleep explain how your snoring can affect your sleep partner.
Disruption of sleep
Trying to sleep next to someone who’s snoring can be difficult and frustrating. An obstructed airway can cause the sound your partner has come to dread, and even he or she nudges you, you may partially wake up and stop for a moment, only to resume a minute or two later. If your problem is caused by sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder, he or she may also hear you make gasping or choking sounds as you sleep, which can be frightening.
Mental and physical problems
Our bodies need adequate sleep to function at our best, and sleep that’s interrupted by a partner’s snoring can impact almost every area of life. Disrupted sleep can cause your partner to feel tired the next day, having a negative impact on his or her mental and physical health. A partner can be more likely to feel drowsy while driving or at work and may also become more anxious, irritable, or even depressed. Concentration, decision-making, and memory can also suffer.
Lack of intimacy
It’s common to retreat to another room in an attempt to get relief from the noise. This can lead to decreased intimacy not only in a physical sense but also in an emotional way. Sharing a bed enables a couple to come together at the end of a busy day and share what’s going on in their lives. From making plans to discussing a concern or funny moment during the day, this time together can be important to fostering and keeping a close relationship.
Getting the help you need
There’s no reason to resign yourself to accepting a lack of intimacy and negative mental and physical effects. An ear, nose, and throat doctor who specializes in sleep disorders can help diagnose and treat the cause of your issues.
If you’re snoring and it’s having an effect on your partner, make an appointment today with eos sleep. We’ll recommend the most effective treatment – including non-invasive, minimally invasive, or outpatient and inpatient surgical options – to help you and your partner get a good night’s rest … together!