That wood-sawing sound coming from your bed mate isn’t just shortening your temper, it could be shortening your time on this earth. Yep, it’s true! Recent studies found that your partner’s snoring could cost you years of your life. Learn why, then keep reading for some tips that will help both of you get a better night’s sleep.
How can your partner’s snoring cost you years of your life?
We’ve known for a long time that your own snoring can affect your health, but studies show that you don’t even have to be the one sawing the proverbial wood to suffer. Just sleeping next to a snorer can wreak havoc on everything from your physical to psychological well-being. That, in turn, translates to years shaved off your life.
While this isn’t exactly brand-new information- the Mayo Clinic released a report illustrating the damage of our partner’s snoring back in 1999- more recent studies solidify those earlier findings. Let’s look at a few ways all of that nighttime noise hurts us innocent bystanders.
Your physical health
The most obvious problem with sleeping next to a snorer is the sheer amount of havoc is causes to your own sleep cycle. It’s very hard to fall asleep next to a chainsaw, after all. We need an average of 8 solid hours of sleep every night. While some people can get by on slightly less, if your partner’s snoring is costing you hours every night of the week, you’ll end up with a massive sleep deficit.
Considering that nearly 60% of women fall short every night as it is, we can’t really afford to get any deeper into “dream-time debt.” Lack of sleep can cause major health problems ranging from high blood pressure to diabetes to heart attacks and strokes. However, it’s not just your long-term health that pays a price. Sleep deficiencies can also cause:
- Car accidents from falling asleep at the wheel.
- Clumsiness, which can lead to other accidents and broken bones
- Lack of concentration (which, you guessed it, can lead to yet more accidents)
Your mental health
All of that lack of sleep can also lead to depression and anxiety, but that’s not the only reason your partner’s snoring is messing with your mental health. Just the dread of yet another sleepless night can cause significant stress. Even just trying to think of a way to broach the subject without hurting your partner’s feelings can cause major anxiety.
Then, there’s the anger-guilt cycle. You spend all night annoyed with your partner for keeping you up. Then, in the light of day, you feel bad because you know it’s not something they can control. Nighttime comes and you’re annoyed again. Round and round it goes. It’s enough to drive anyone over the edge, as both anger and guilt are powerfully stressful emotions.
I don’t think I need to remind you that stress and anxiety are major contributors to heart problems. Once again, round and round we go. Your partner’s snoring damages your physical health, which damages your mental health, which damages your physical health and so on.
There’s no denying that your partner’s snoring takes a major toll on your body, but what can you do about it? Read on for some tips to help both of you get the sleep you need.
How to deal with your partner’s snoring
Snoring has actually ruined marriages before, so you definitely want to find a solution fast! The very first thing you should do is encourage your partner to talk to a doctor. Snoring can be a sign of anything from mild allergies to major sleep apnea. Assuming you’ve done that, the following tips and devices should help you cope better. We’ll start with the cheapest and work our way up.
By the way, the product recommendations are affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Earplugs
One of the cheapest ways to deal with your partner’s snoring is to get a really good set of earplugs. Even the best of the bunch won’t run you more than a few bucks. Get the type made for people who work in factories. They’re comfortable and effective. The recommendation below comes with 50 pairs for under $20.
Essential oils
Although essential oils won’t stop your partner’s snoring when it’s caused by things like sleep apnea or other conditions, it can relieve congestion that leads to noisy nights. Try making some homemade vapor rub with peppermint oil, rosemary, basil, and/or eucalyptus in a coconut or olive oil base. If you don’t want to go the DIY route, you can also try the all-natural rub below.
Nose vents
You may remember these from when we talked about the most brilliant Amazon gadgets that will make your life easier. The medical-grade silicone vents go into your partner’s nose to help keep air passages open. They’re reusable and even come with a little antibacterial storage case.
Side-sleeper pillows
Since most snoring comes from back-sleepers, pillows designed to encourage side-sleeping can be a major help. The only major drawback is that they’re pretty expensive for a pillow. Still, at least they’re more comfortable than a lot of the other ideas I’ve seen. The one below becomes a Shiatsu neck massager when you flip it over, which helps make the price a little easier to swallow.
Separate rooms- a last resort option.
If all else fails and you feel like your partner’s snoring is ruining your relationship, consider sleeping in separate rooms. According to a 2015 study, about 25% of couples sleep apart, either in different beds or rooms. It’s not the ideal option, but millions of couples have happy & healthy relationships despite not sleeping together at night.
While there are countless other devices out there to help stop snoring, many of them are either really expensive or really outlandish. I don’t know many people that want to sleep with sandbags strapped to their backs to keep them from rolling over, for example! Nor do I know many people who want to spend upwards of $400 for a “smart” pillow that tells them when they’re snoring.
So, try these cheaper methods out first. If they don’t work, you can always talk to a medical professional about which higher-end products are actually worth it. Snoring affects both partners in ways that go far beyond minor annoyance, so the key is to find something that works and stick with it. That way, you’ll both get the rest you deserve and keep your partner’s snoring from shaving years off your life.
Last update on 2022-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Leave a Comment