The Downfall of Sleeping with a Snorer
Sleeping with someone who snores uncontrollably or chokes periodically throughout the night isn’t only a bother to one’s sleep, but it can be quite worrisome as well. Snoring and sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, can create a major rift within a relationship. In some cases, it can even be the cause of separation.
Research has found that many couples will suffer from a higher divorce rate when one partner snores or has a sleep disorder and the other doesn’t. It will cause a strain on relationships because poor quality sleep will affect both partners’ everyday moods and may even lead to resentment towards each other.
As many as 23% of couples will sleep in separate rooms because of these issues, which often hurts their intimate relationship. The love of a relationship should never be affected by one partner’s sleep disorder. Dr. Guinn wants to help you and your partner achieve a full night’s rest without the disruptions from your snoring or sleep apnea.
The Negative Impact on Your Sex Life
Sleep apnea can be detrimental to your relationship because of the negative effects it has on your sex life. The disorder can completely strip you of your sexual desires and diminish your overall affection with your partner.
A study found that women with sleep apnea between the ages of 28 and 64 are significantly more likely to suffer from loss of libido and sexual dysfunction, and 70% of men with the disorder suffer from erectile and sexual dysfunction.
When you’ve lost intimacy in your relationship, frustration will quickly build up between you and your partner. It’s common for couples to lose their attraction for one another and move on easier when there’s no longer a physical connection.
The Benefits of a Sleep Study
In order to help save your relationship and your health, you must seek a sleep study in order to identify your sleep disorder and find a solution. In one study, a husband who suffered from sleep apnea began using a CPAP for just two weeks. After the first couple of weeks, his wife said her quality of sleep improved, her daytime energy picked up, and their overall relationship was the best it had been in a while– it’s that simple.
Once you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Guinn can help you discover effective, comfortable sleep treatments here at The Smile Agency. Our treatments won’t only help you and your partner achieve a better night’s sleep, but it will also save your relationship in the long-run.
8 Tips for Couples With Sleep Disorders
- Talk to one another. Communication is one of the most important qualities to have in a relationship. If something isn’t going right between you and your partner, sit down and talk about it. An honest conversation can truly help save your relationship.
- Get a sleep study. The only way to treat a sleep disorder is by officially receiving a proper diagnosis for it. By getting a sleep study done, you’ll be able to find an effective treatment for your condition.
- Listen to your doctor. Your doctor is there to help you understand your disorder and recommend any possible ways to alleviate your symptoms. Listen to them and try out each method to ensure you’ve done everything to help your disorder.
- Take care of your health. Eating a well-balanced diet, working out, eliminating tobacco and alcohol from your habits, and changing your sleep position can all be great contributing factors to improving your sleep apnea.
- Change things up in your room. The environment we sleep in can vastly influence the quality of our sleep. By changing the lighting in your room or adding subtle music or noise to the bedroom, your chances of falling asleep and remaining asleep may be improved.
- Discover short- and long-term solutions. Discovering different ways to alleviate your snoring and sleep apnea symptoms can benefit your relationship immediately and provide you with an improved quality of life in the long-run.
- Make sleeping fun. If you or your partner dread going to bed because of your sleep disorder, try to make things fun by telling stories or jokes to each other and cuddling right before falling asleep.
- Be patient and support each other. Living with a sleep disorder isn’t fun for anyone. By supporting one another and being patient with treatment, you and your partner will be able to find the relief you’ve been waiting for.