What to do when your partner snores
SNORING is a sleep condition that many people hate, as not only is the sound annoying, it is likely to be a distraction and a disruption to your nightly rest. But in the same way that snoring prevents the listener from sleeping peacefully, it also affects the individual who is snoring.
Dr Alfred Dawes, general, laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon, said if your partner snores, before you plug your ears or move to the couch, you may want to make the move to get them screened for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Dr Dawes said OSA is a common but underdiagnosed condition that results from reduced air entry into the lungs when you are sleeping, resulting in snoring.
“This can be due to obesity where increased fat around the throat causes the airway to collapse, or structural faults with the upper airway, “ he said.
Dr Dawes pointed out that OSA is very common in obese people who may also have restrictions in breathing because of the extra weight in their chest and in their abdomen limiting how much the lungs can expand.
“They may snore loudly and in some cases take shorter breaths. There may also be apnoea episodes where the sleeper stops breathing completely for a few seconds. I have seen one instance where a patient stopped breathing for 50 seconds while sleeping,” he said.
Additionally, Dr Dawes said this difficulty in breathing usually results in sleep that is not restful and may cause the snorer to wake up several times in the night.
As a consequence, Dr Dawes said this transcends to tiredness in the day and often leads to the tendency to fall asleep easily, sometimes while driving.
He explained that this lack of adequate rest also results in elevated stress hormones, which can cause weight gain, in turn further worsening the sleep apnoea.
To treat OSA, Dr Dawes said a special machine with a fitted face mask that pumps air down the airways can be obtained. He also said surgery to correct any upper airway obstruction is an option, as well as bariatric surgery in obese patients.
Instead of pushing, shoving or elbowing your partner in a bid to change his or her breathing pattern, remember snoring is a medical condition which has to be properly diagnosed and a treatment plan determined.
In the interim, other actions that can be taken until your partner is properly diagnosed include:
1. Sleeping on your side
Dr Dawes said this prevents the tongue from falling back into the throat and blocking the air passageway.
2. Avoid alcohol and sleeping pills
Dr Dawes said these relax the muscles around the upper airway so they collapse easily, causing obstruction.
3. Earplugs
He suggested these to block out the sounds of the snores.
4. Snore strips
Dr Dawes said these work for people with narrow noses, which is not found in our population. However, if you have confirmation that you are the odd one out, he said it can be explored.
5. Go to sleep before your partner or sleep in another bed
Dr Dawes said partners may have to come to an amicable agreement in this regard.
