Do you lie awake at night, listening to the deafening snores of your partner? You’re not alone – around 42% of the adult population are thought to snore. Many people deal with it by simply investing in a good set of earplugs, or moving into the spare room. But ignoring the root cause of snoring can put your partner’s health at risk, and create relationship problems in the long-run.
In a recent Snoreeze YouGov survey, 58% of people admitted that they’d done nothing to deal with their snoring. Around 27% said they’d changed their sleeping position, and 5% claimed to have made some lifestyle changes (such as losing weight, and quitting smoking/drinking). If your partner refuses to do anything about their snoring, it might be time for you to step in.
Why you should do something about your partner’s snoring
Forcing your partner onto the sofa isn’t a long-term solution. Here are three good reasons why you should do something about their night-time noise:
- Don’t let resentment fester. When you’re losing out on sleep because of your partner, the anger soon starts to build. This leads to furious arguments that don’t end with a solution for either of you.
- Physical intimacy disappears. Sharing a bed with your partner is an easy way to be close to them. When this option is taken away, it’s much harder to be intimate; couples often feel like they’re living two separate lives.
- Snoring can put their health at risk. Just 15% of women and 8% of men worry that snoring might be impacting their partner’s health – but snoring is often the first symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a condition where a person stops breathing in their sleep. If it’s left untreated, it can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Find out more about OSA here.
How you can help your partner
Luckily, there are plenty of options when it comes to finding snoring relief. Lifestyle changes are a good place to start: cutting down on alcohol, quitting cigarettes, and losing weight can all help to alleviate snoring. Factors like medication, menopause and pregnancy can also be reasons why someone might snore – you can learn more about these by clicking here.
There are also snoring relief products that are designed to treat different types of snoring. Most people tend to fall into one of the following categories:
- Snoring with congestion. If your partner is snoring because their nose is blocked (or if they’re suffering from a cold/allergies), a Nasal Spray or Nasal Strips will work well for them.
- Everyday snoring. If they tend to sleep on their back and snore fairly loudly, a product targeting the back of the throat can help. Get them to try Throat Spray or Oral Strips.
- Loud snoring/obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). If your partner snores very loudly, or if they suffer from OSA, an Oral Device could be the best option. If you suspect they have OSA, you should encourage them to visit their doctor as soon as possible for treatment advice.
If you’re not sure what type of snorer your partner is, click here to find out which category they fall into, as well as recommended products.
The sooner you address your partner’s snoring, the sooner you can reap the benefits. Dealing with your partner’s snoring can improve your relationship, your sleep, and their health.