Snoring is a huge problem. One survey asked people in relationships and the results were shocking: two thirds of the participants said their partner snored. Now, we all know that snoring can be harmful to the snorers health – but could it be true that having a snoring partner shortens your life too? We’ve done the research and you’ll find the answer here.
There’s nothing worse than being tired and looking forward to going to sleep – only to get woken up after 5 minutes because our partner starts snoring. Most people see this as a simple nuisance. Something that’s bothering but doesn’t have too big of an effect. However, this isn’t true for everyone. As snoring can have a negative effect – even if you yourself don’t snore.
Having a snoring partner shortens your life?
Now, if your SO snores once a while – maybe after drinking alcohol or when he or she has the common cold, there isn’t really a problem. The problem starts when your partner snores on a daily basis. In this case you can develop insomnia as a result – or at the least be bothered by it and get less sleep. Even if you don’t notice it, it can still cause you to wake up short periods of time at night. This can also be bad for your sleeping health.
Snoring happens when air is not moving correctly through the throat and nose when your partner sleeps. This causes the tissues in the throat to vibrate and this produces the sound that snoring makes. Often, people who snore have too much of this nasal tissue. Another reason that can cause snoring is when the position of the tongue restricts airflow. Often times, snoring is at its worst when people are sleeping on their back. So one simple solution might be for your partner to sleep on his or her side or stomach.
Lack of sleep decreases quality of life
Depending on how badly your partner snores, this can have a profound influence on the quality of your sleep. And since the quality of your sleep is directly linked to the quality of your life, it’s important to solve the snoring problem.
From Visually.
In the above infographic you see some of the problems that sleep deprivation and have. Here’s an overview:
- Higher levels of anxiety
- Disruption of circadian rhythms
- Higher levels of depression
- Impaired cognition
- Higher risk of stroke
- Higher risk of hypertension and heart disease
- Increased risk of breast cancer
As you can see, all these symptoms are not to be taken lightly. So the real question whether a snoring partner shortens your life, is a question of how much sleep deprivation the snoring of your partner causes you. If you sleep 10 minutes less, then it’s probably not a problem. However, if you lie awake every night, because your partner snores, then it might be causing serious problems in your life.
If this happens for a long enough time, and you get problems with heart disease, because you cannot sleep, then having a snoring partner shortens your life.
Now, don’t worry. There are many solutions for snoring. In the following paragraphs we’ll see some of the most effective ones.
What to do against snoring?
There are two different types of solutions for snoring. The first ones are lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes range from changes that can have large effects, such as quitting smoking or losing weight. Now, these ones are often difficult to get your partner to accept since most lifestyle changes are difficult.
However, is important to let your partner know that you suffer from his or her snoring. Also, be sure to let know that his snoring can be harmful to his own health. This should make your significant other more susceptible and more willing to make the lifestyle changes needed to reduce snoring.
Lifestyle changes
Here’s an overview of lifestyle effect that can cause snoring. Take a look and see which ones apply to your partner:
- Quit smoking
- Lose weight
- Sleep on stomach or side instead of back
- Drinking alcohol
- Specific sleep medications
- Nasal or sinus problem (common cold for example)
As you can see, the general thread here is that the healthier someone is, the less the chances of snoring. If you’re overweight, smoke and drink, then the chances are very high that you will be snoring. However, the problem is that overweight or quitting drinking or smoking or very difficult to solve. One simple change that can be very effective, is to start sleeping on the side or stomach. This can have an effect of reducing snoring in light cases. Exercising can also be helpful in reducing weight and clearing the nasal pathways.
Medical interventions
Now, if your partner has tried everything of the above reasons why he/she might snore, than it’s possible that he/she needs medical intervention. Here are the most common medical interventions for snoring:
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
- Laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty
- Palatal implants
- Somnoplasty
- Dental devices or jaw positioners
- surgical procedures
For more information about each of these procedures, click here.
If your partner experiences serious problems with snoring, then it’s also a good idea to go and see a doctor. Don’t just take any advice you read on the internet, but let a professional have a look at your partner and give him or her personal advice.
Final thought on the effects of a snoring partner
Snoring is a serious problem. As we’ve learnt today, having a snoring partner shortens your life when the snoring causes sleep deprivation. It’s very easy to suffer from sleeping problems, if you’re continuously woken up by a snoring partner.
That’s why it is important to solve the problem and help your partner reduce snoring. Let your significant other know that snoring is harmful to both of you. This can help him or her acknowledge the reality of the problem.
Common fixes are lifestyle changes or medical interventions. Be sure to go see a doctor if the problem is causing serious trouble.
