Are You Experiencing Secondhand Snoring?
How do you know if you are suffering the impact of secondhand snoring? Consider the following questions:
- Do you witness your partner snoring?
- Does your partner’s sleep habits disturb your sleep?
- Do you feel that you have trouble performing to your fullest capability at work or at home due to your sleep quality?
- Do you have a hard time falling asleep due to your partner’s sleep habits?
- Do you have a hard time sleeping throughout the night due to your partner’s sleep habits?
- Do you feel particularly tired in the morning or afternoon due to a lack of sleep quality?
If you answered “yes” to two or more of those questions, it’s likely that you are experiencing secondhand snoring. This is a serious condition and it means you should take action.
The Health Impacts of Secondhand Snoring
You might think: I’m not the one whose breathing is suffering–how can my health be impacted? But the truth is that breathing is only part of the issue: it’s also related to sleep. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, it’s a problem, no matter the cause.
In fact, a study of people with sleep apnea showed that people experiencing secondhand snoring woke up almost as much as the person with the breathing problem. When sleep apnea sufferers woke an average of 26 times an hour, their partner actually woke an average of 21 times an hour!
The results of this show up in studies. People with partners who snore regularly experience anxiety, depression, and health effects. They experience a reduced quality of life compared to people who sleep with non-snorers.
Treat Their Snoring to Improve Your Sleep
Fortunately, the evidence shows that treating a partner’s sleep breathing can improve your sleep and your quality of life. When your partner gets treatment, your sleep efficiency can increase by nearly 20%, and your daytime sleepiness can drop by 21%!
And when you get better sleep, you can function better, too. When your partner gets treatment, you may experience:
- Less anxiety
- A better ability to physically live your life
- That you’re better emotionally equipped to deal with life
- Improved social function
- Improved mental health
- More energy and vitality
And that’s in addition to the benefits your partner will experience.
Does Your Partner Have Sleep Apnea?
If there’s a silver lining to secondhand snoring, it’s that it gives you the opportunity to help your partner get treatment for a potentially deadly condition: sleep apnea. Although sleep apnea can potentially triple a person’s risk for early death, perhaps 80% of people with the condition are undiagnosed.
- Do you witness your partner choking or gasping for breath during sleep?
- Does your partner pause or stop breathing during sleep?
- Does your partner fall asleep easily, if given the opportunity, during the day (normal wakeful hours)?
- Do you witness your partner clenching and/or grinding his/her teeth during sleep?
- Does your partner still appear tired upon awakening from a normal night’s sleep?
The more “Yes” answers given, the more likely it is that your bed partner has the life threatening condition called sleep apnea. If you answered 2 or more questions with a “yes”, your bed partner should be evaluated for sleep apnea as soon as possible. We understand that many partners are hesitant to take this first important step to better health, and often don’t prioritize their own health. Remind them that they are not just doing this for this for themselves. Improvement in their sleep habits will greatly improve not only their life, but yours, and anyone else who may live in your household. Better sleep means more energy, better cognition and memory…being present (really present) for all people and moments that are so important in our busy lives. You will not regret taking this step for your family.
Schedule a Snoring Consultation Today
If you are suffering from secondhand snoring, don’t let it last another night without doing something about it. Please book their first appointment today or call (402) 493-4175 today for an appointment with a sleep dentist at the Advanced Dental Sleep Treatment Center in Omaha.
