The problem of snoring extends beyond just disrupting a snorer’s sleep. Snoring in couples often creates sleep problems for both partners. In about 40-50% of marriages in the U.S. ended in divorce.
A research study shows that there are 11 major reasons why a couple divorces: one of the main reasons is the lack of commitment, the second is infidelity and the third is argument and conflict. One of the reasons why this argument happens is due to snoring, which is commonly overlooked.
Snoring is the third leading cause of divorce among Americans, just after infidelity and financial problems. Snoring is no longer an acceptable ground for divorce in the UK. Research has shown that almost 2 million Australians are sleeping alone due to sleeplessness.
In this article, we are going to talk about the reasons why snoring can ruin relationships, solutions we can consider, and permanent solutions for snoring.
Impacts of snoring on your relationship
Snoring affects sleep and the surrounding population, potentially affecting sleep quality and leading to cognitive problems. Everyone doesn’t want to blame their spouse for poor performance or a forgotten chore! A higher number of arguments arise from poor sleep and negative behavior. Sleep deprivation can make couples feel less ecstatic about one another owing less to their partner’s moods.
Even if snoring doesn’t keep you awake, snoring probably prevents your partner from getting a good night’s sleep. As a result of ongoing sleep deprivation, both the snorer and their partner feel distress from the following consequences:
- According to studies, 80% to 90% of people who sleep next to snorers find it difficult to enter REM sleep, which is needed for deep sleep.
- People who lack sleep or experience poor sleep quality are more likely to be irritable, sleepy, and prone to making mistakes because of poor concentration during the day.
- Individuals with chronic sleep deprivation are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, depression, and a weakened immune system.
- Drowsiness contributes to almost 20 percent of auto accidents and injuries.
- As we already mentioned, snoring could indicate sleep apnea, a serious condition. Intimacy can be eroded by couples who suffer from sleep apnea. It affects both men and women. Your relationship with your partner will be strengthened if intimacy is emphasized.
Things to improve your snoring and your relationship
Snoring can be a source of frustration and tension in relationships, as it can disrupt the sleep of the person who is snoring and the person who is trying to sleep nearby. Here are some things that you can do to improve snoring and improve relationships:
- Use anti-snoring devices – It is recommended to use a nasal dilator or any anti-snoring devices at night to open up the airways so that you can breathe easier, especially if you suffer from nasal obstruction that contributes to your snoring.
- Comfort comes first – Maintain a dark, clean, and distraction-free bedroom to ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Make sure your thermostat is set at a comfortable temperature. Keep your bedding fresh by replacing it regularly.
- Develop a routine – To keep your body clock in balance and to ensure that you and your partner sleep enough each night, you must have sleep schedules and try retiring to bed and waking up at roughly the same time every day.
- Don’t take it too seriously – Snoring is an involuntary action. You don’t need to harbor resentment toward your partner over this. You can reduce your it together by laughing about it and working together.
- Sleep in separate bedrooms – Although the bedroom is sacred to many couples. This is where retreating, reconnecting, intimacy and bonding take place. I guess until somebody snores. There can be advantages to this, especially if a partner has different sleeping habits. This technique could be especially helpful if one snores not often. While sleeping in different rooms may help the sleeper, the sleeping arrangement does not address the underlying problems in any way. It may affect emotional and physical connection and each couple’s relationship should determine the best option for them to choose.
Snoring shouldn’t stand in the way of your relationship with your partner. Sleeping in separate bedrooms can work for some and not for others so sleeping separately should be a last resort. Explore all possible solutions to your snoring problem and make sure you are happy with them. It may surprise you to discover that there is an endless array of natural, safe, and affordable solutions available to you.
Permanent and long-term solutions
Often people ignore that snoring can actually cause sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is a serious, common occurrence where breathing may be interrupted at various times during the sleep period. OSA can cause cardiovascular disease, diabetes, blood pressure, and many more medical ailments. Sleep apnea sufferers are recommended for medical care. A person can take steps that can stop a person from sleeping apnea or improve the quality of life in their relationship.
What are the signs that your snoring is causing significant health problems? Sleep specialists can help you if you have trouble breathing, snore more than three times per week, or can be heard snoring outside the room. The benefits of sleep apnea treatment extend not only to the individual but also to their partner.