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Is Sleep Apnea and Snoring Ruining the Romance?

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February 15, 2023

6:00 AM

What’s on your agenda tonight? Some quality snuggle time with your partner? Cuddling under the blankets with the person you love? Did you know studies indicate significant benefits to sleeping next to your partner at night? Unfortunately, nothing ruins the romance faster than snuggling up to your partner who is sawing logs.

Snoring can tear couples apart. It can strain relationships and hurts both partners’ mental and physical health. At Silent Night Therapy, we understand confronting your partner’s snoring can be a touchy subject. However, addressing the problem now can help strengthen your relationship in the long run and potentially prevent long-term health complications in your partner.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Snoring is not always a minor annoyance. Reports suggest as many as one in four couples sleep in separate rooms. The number one reason for this phenomenon is typically snoring. Some people find the only way to get a good night’s rest is by separating themselves from the droning noise of their partner’s constant snoring. While snoring can be bothersome, it is sometimes a symptom of a deep and more concerning health problem like sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a condition where a person’s breathing is continually interrupted throughout the night. The most common form of the disorder is obstructive sleep apnea. OSA is when an individual’s airway is blocked, leading to periods where breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Snoring is an audible sign that oxygen is struggling to move through a person’s airway and a key indicator that a person may suffer from sleep apnea. Other symptoms of the disorder include:

Gasping for air at night
Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
Feeling tired throughout the day
Not waking up refreshed or rested
Morning headaches
Difficulty staying asleep

Sleep apnea not only impacts your quality of sleep, but there are also significant health complications liked to the condition. The American Heart Association indicates sleep apnea may increase an individual’s risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Sleep apnea may also elevate a person’s risk of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s.

What Can You Do?

Snoring may kill the romance, but it can also do long-term damage to your partner’s health and the health of your relationship together. Start by having a heartfelt dialogue with your partner. Don’t jab them in the ribs in the middle of the night to air your grievances. Set aside time during the day to have a conversation. Try not to come across in an accusatory way. Snoring can be embarrassing. Instead, tell them you are concerned about their health. You may want to mention that you’ve noticed them lacking energy or feeling tired. Comfort them and let your partner know you want to help and that you can get through this together.

There are ways to combat sleep apnea. Oral appliances and CPAP machines are some of the most common treatment options. A CPAP machine may not seem like a sexy option to your partner. Let them know you care and stand by them. Your support means the world and can help your partner to stick to a treatment regime.

Ready for Help?

Are you or your partner ready for some help? The sleep experts at Silent Night Therapy want to help reintroduce you and your partner to evening intimacy minus the snoring. Get a complimentary consultation. Call our office at (631) 983-2463 or take our three-minute sleep quiz today.