Snoring, Snoring Problem, Snoring Solutions

Is your sleep interrupted every night by your partner’s chronic, loud snoring? If your answer is “YES!”, then you’re probably aware of what a nightmare this can be and how to deal with a snoring partner. Here are several reasons:

  • Resentment is growing in your relationship because your partner isn’t taking the issue seriously and isn’t trying to find a good solution to the problem.
  • Their chronic snoring could be indicative of a more serious, underlying problem.
  • You wake up tired in the mornings because it’s difficult to fall asleep, get back to sleep once you’ve been woken you up, or stay asleep throughout the night.
  • Your partner wakes up and complains of being tired all the time because they weren’t able to get a restful night’s sleep or you elbowed them to shut them up.

As a result of these reasons and other issues, sleep disorder specialists often wind up sounding more like marriage counselors than healthcare professionals when discussing how to stop someone from snoring.

Consequently, solving these issues becomes a two-way street in that both of you must be willing to meet in the middle in order to resolve them. Remember, sleep deprivation caused by snoring episodes isn’t conducive to building a strong relationship.

The Starting Point

If you want to know how to stop someone from snoring, you have to determine the type of snoring problem you’re dealing with. There are two types of snoring to be aware of:

  • Primary snoring – this is the more common loud breathing sounds that occurs in the upper airway and is not associated with sleep apnea breathing interruptions. Although it can be an annoyance, it doesn’t pose any health risks.
  • Sleep apnea snoring – this type of snoring occurs when the throat closes and your breathing is interrupted repeatedly during sleep. It commonly ranges from mild to moderate to severe and can potentially pose a serious threat to your overall health.

The best way to figure out how to deal with a snoring partner is by first learning the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea. Try to rule this issue out or get diagnosed by your family doctor or sleep disorder specialist.

The Doctor-Partner/Spouse Discussion

In most cases, your doctor or healthcare provider will want your partner / spouse to accompany you to the appointment so they can ask them the following questions:

  • Do you feel overly tired during the day and become irritable?
  • Do you usually get a full night’s sleep but still wake up tired nearly every morning?
  • Do you wake up frequently throughout the night without knowing why?
  • Does your partner / spouse gasp for air when they’re sleeping or does that gasping wake them up?
  • Does your partner / spouse have a Body Mass Index (BMI), hypertension (high blood pressure), or a neck circumference of 16” or more?
  • Have you noticed that your partner / spouse stops breathing for up to 10 seconds or more? Can you recollect how many times this happens?

These are the risk factors, sings, or symptoms commonly associated with sleep apnea. If your answer to all of these questions was “no”, then the problem probably isn’t sleep apnea. However, if the answer to any of these questions was “yes”, your doctor or healthcare provider may recommend that you undergo a sleep study.

Helpful Suggestions and Tips for Partners and Spouses

Fortunately, there are several things a partner or spouse can do to alleviate or reduce the number of snoring disturbances they experience throughout the night:

Help your partner practice proper sleep hygiene –

As per the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (2014), it was published that consistent sleep schedules and proper night’s sleep by ensuring a comfortable sleep environment is important to minimize and lower any risk of sleep disturbance. And that helps to reduce snoring.

Eliminate or limit sedatives and any alcohol consumption –

A 1999 study published in the Journal of Otolaryngology mentions that sedatives and alcohol tend to relax the muscles of the throat which increases your chances of snoring every night. Additionally, alcohol consumption before you sleep increases the intensity of your snoring. It will benefit you to advice your partner to avoid alcohol just before you sleep (To know more you can learn – Alcohol and Sleep Apnea). However, sedatives need to be taken as per doctor’s advice.

Encourage your partner or spouse to seek treatment for nasal congestion or allergies –

It has been noted that nasal congestion and allergies contribute to constricted airways and limit proper breathing. That is why it will help to encourage your partner or spouse to use humidifiers, nasal sprays or take antihistamines to improve the respiratory process. It will assist in reduction of congestion and widen the airways. American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy (2013) has reported that those suffering with allergic rhinitis that were prescribed nasal corticosteroids were able to notice better breathing with reduction in moderate snoring.

Help adjust sleeping positions –

It has been seen that sleeping on your back can increase the episodes of snoring as the tongue falls back into the throat. In a study done as mentioned in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (2009), it was found that positional therapy significantly lowered the snoring. You can encourage your partner to sleep on the side for better quality sleep and to stop snoring. Using body pillows can help prevent them from rolling over in their sleep.

Using effective nasal strips and nasal dilators –

When the snoring individual uses nasal strips or nasal dilators, it helps to widen the nasal passages for easier breathing. And that reduces snoring to a considerable extent. The “Chest Journal” (2006) mentions a study that showed that nasal dilators that are used externally lower snoring that is due to congestion. If you are looking for non-invasive options, then nasal strips work well.

Apart from these tips, you can ensure sleep hygiene by:

  • Hanging blackout curtains.
  • Have your partner or spouse take a hot shower before going to bed in order to open their nasal passages.
  • Invest in a new mattress.
  • Try listening to white noise.
  • Wear earplugs.

On a closing note, try Asonor Anti-snoring Spray to alleviate snoring episodes. For more information about how to deal with a snoring partner or how to stop someone from snoring, e-mail any questions to [email protected] or visit our website today.

 
 
 

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