My partner goes to bed before me and snores!

Are you up all night while your partner snores away next to you? The effects of sleeping with a snorer may have more of an impact on you than just getting on your nerves. It could cause symptoms of insomnia in your daily life, including drowsiness, anxiousness and irritability, as well as cause a rift in your otherwise happy relationship.

While occasional snoring can be caused by many different things, chronic snoring may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, which is caused by obstruction of the upper airway. It is characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep, typically lasting 20 to 40 seconds at a time.

A Mayo Clinic study found that spouses of snorers woke up, at least partially, an average of 21 times an hour, nearly as often as the 27 times the snorers were awakened by their sleep apnea episodes.

Does that sound like you? Here are some tips to help put an end to your partner’s snoring.

Encourage him or her to make changes in the hours leading up to bedtime
According to a WebMD article, occasional snorers should avoid things like tranquilizers, sleeping pills and antihistamines before bed, and alcohol, heavy meals or snacks for four hours before going to sleep. He or she can also make changes in sleep patterns, by going to bed at the same time every night, or sleeping on his or her side rather than the back.

Try an anti-snoring aid
There are more than 300 anti-snoring devices on the market, including products like lubricating mouthsprays, nasal dilator strips and ergonomically shaped pillows. Before you try a sleep aid for yourself (see our earlier blog about the reasons you may not want to take sleeping pills), encourage your partner to test one of these treatments for snoring to see if they provide some relief.

Seek medical attention
Not for you, but for your sleep partner. Consistent snoring may be caused by an underlying cause, most commonly obstructive sleep apnea. If your partner snores nightly, or you notice pauses in his or her breathing during the night, it may be time to see a specialist. There are several surgical options that could help to correct physical problems he or she may have.

While you help your snoring husband or wife find a better sleep solution, we have one for you: SleepPhones. Pick up a pair today to be on your way to a restful night’s sleep and to drown out the noise of your snoring partner.