Second
Hand Snoring
Sleep
Stealing
Did you
know sleeping with a snorer can
take a toll on YOUR health and
wellness? People sleeping next to loved ones that snore have also reported excessive day-time sleepiness
and fatigue, along with their snoring partners. Research now shows that in
relationships, both individuals feel the effects of
snoring, doubling the importance of treatment.
A study
conducted by the Mayo Clinic in 1999 found that bed partners of people who
snore woke up, at least partially, 21 times an hour on average. That’s almost
as often as snorers themselves,
who woke up 27 times per hour. This
quantifiable damage to snorees (bed partners) should be a wake-up call. The effect on their bodies of losing
even one hour of sleep a night due to snoring is significant.
When a snorer enters the deeper levels of sleep, such as REM or Delta, muscles relax, including the muscles in the
airway which are located in the back of the throat. These relaxed muscles
collapse and a vibration is created as air moves between the soft palette and
the back of the throat. The loud sound created from this vibration (snoring)
abruptly awakens the snoree. This means deeper levels of sleep for the snoree
are also jeopardized. In addition, it can be harder for the snoree to return to
sleep because the snorer only experiences subconscious awakenings (partial
awakenings) and has little recollection of waking up throughout the night.
Consequently, snorees are not getting the quality of
sleep required to maintain their health and energy throughout the day. In a
relationship, both parties are extremely fatigued, and this places undue stress
on the relationship. Second hand snoring may cause partners to make poor eating
decisions, causes loss in intimacy, and creates resentment. In some
relationships couples are forced to sleep in separate bedrooms, thereby contributing additional tension to
relationships.
Some
snorees turn to ear plugs to help reduce the noise. However, many people
underestimate the high volume potential of snoring. Snorers can reach a volume
of between 60-90 decibels. The most
effective ear plug can only eliminate
33 decibels of noise. This means that while ear plugs can help, there are
still a lot of remaining decibels in that equation.
Treating
snoring is critical – for the snorer, the snoree, and to save the relationship. One must also keep in mind the
importance of understanding the reason behind the snoring...the likelihood of
sleep apnea being a key factor. Snoring can be hard on both people and an enormous
strain on a relationship but it’s critical to remember that sleep apnea is
life-threatening and a silent killer.
The first
step in finding some relief is to talk with your partner about his/her snoring.
There are several options in seeking treatment. Start by making an appointment
with us to discuss the problem. From there, a sleep test is needed to check for
sleep apnea – either through an over-night sleep study at a local sleep lab
(PSG) or a home sleep test (HST). With those results we can help identify the
best treatment solution. Please visit www.garyrhopperdds.com for your free sleep
evaluation and call us today 951.925.2318 so we can help you lead healthier lives and share
a more loving relationship!
Take an online sleep test now!
(Blog provided by Sleep Group Solutions)
Gary R. Hopper D.D.S.
1102 E. Morton Pl.
Hemet, CA 92543
951.223.1296
951.925.2318
