Sometimes, getting a good night’s sleep can be difficult for anyone. When the stress of the day or money worries are on your mind, you may find it more challenging to drift off to sleep. However, sometimes, the snoring of the person next to you may be keeping you awake. Here are some observations about snoring and what to do when your spouse’s snoring keeps you awake.
What is Snoring?
When your spouse is snoring, it’s because air can’t flow normally outward through their nose or throat. When someone lies down, the muscles around their throat relax. That relaxation will cause those muscles to block the open spaces, usually allowing air to be exhaled. The noise you hear is the sound of the air causing the tissues to
vibrate near your spouse’s throat or nose.
The noise can seem loud and annoying to you – but snoring can also be dangerous for your spouse. While snoring, they won’t be able to get enough oxygen to their brain. Because of this, snoring can make your spouse irritable and sleepy during the daytime. If snoring continues for an extended period, you should encourage them to see a doctor.
What Can a Doctor Do?
When your spouse goes to a doctor, the doctor will ask them questions about their snoring pattern. They’ll also examine your spouse. Snoring can occur because of temporary factors, like swollen tonsils or severe allergies. Your spouse’s sleeping position may also play a part in their snoring, or they may have a problem caused by jaw alignment. One of the most common reasons for snoring is OSA – also called obstructive sleep apnea.
Apnea means “no breathing” – which is what happens when your spouse’s muscles completely block their throat. OSA has many causes, and it can affect people of all ages. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, about 3% of children are diagnosed with OSA. The doctor will send your spouse for a sleep test, and if the test confirms OSA, the doctor may prescribe a special sleep mask called a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device.
What Can My Spouse and I Do?
During the time your spouse is still snoring, there are things they can do to reduce snoring frequency. Sleep position is a common cause of snoring, so discourage them from sleeping on their back. If you can get a bed with adjustable heights on both sides, elevating the head of your spouse’s side of the bed will open their airway and can stop their snoring. If the doctor says your spouse’s snoring may be due to their weight, you can encourage them to make healthier food choices.
As for you, try using headphones when you’re in bed to listen to relaxing music or “white noise.” If your spouse’s snoring interferes with your health, you can try sleeping in a different room. If your living space doesn’t offer another room, you may have to consider buying a house. After all, according to data gathered from building permits by the U.S. Census, over 900,000 single-family homes were built in 2021, so you will have plenty of homes to choose from.
What If My Spouse Needs Braces?
There are some cases when jaw misalignment can cause obstruction to the airway and cause snoring. If your doctor or dentist determines this is the cause of your spouse’s snoring, they will need to wear braces. The average amount of time adults will wear braces is 3–4 years, which is a more extended period than children will wear them. Because of the larger size of adult jaws, jaw realignment will take longer.
If your spouse’s snoring is keeping you awake, take action – for the sake of your marriage. Begin with easy suggestions, like earbuds, and suggest they sleep on their side. If snoring persists, encourage them to see a doctor.
