Did you know that snoring is the 3rd leading cause of divorce among Americans?
That startling statistic illustrates yet another way that sleep apnea can devastate your life. The first and loudest symptom that’s typically noticed in sleep apnea sufferers is snoring. Learn more about how sleep apnea can ruin relationships, and find out about the actions you can take to prevent this. Snoring is tedious, but the right approach can keep your relationship strong.
Why Would Sleep Apnea Affect Your Relationship?
In a perfect world, your significant other will love you through thick and thin, sickness and health. But what happens when your sickness is loudly keeping them up every night?
If you have sleep apnea, extra care should be taken to preserve your relationship. It’s important to keep in mind that it’s not just you that’s suffering – it’s both of you. Loud snoring is the most common symptom of sleep apnea, and it’s often so severe that not even earplugs will help your spouse ignore it. Take a look at how Derrick and Jen’s relationship was impacted by his snoring:
- After a series of eating and drinking binges, Derrick begins snoring loudly each night.
- At first, Jen playfully rolls him over but begins to grow resentful after a couple weeks.
- Jen tells Derrick about his snoring, but he dismisses her, saying “I can’t help it!”
- Both Jen and Derrick have trouble staying awake through the day.
- Jen notices her performance slipping at work and doesn’t think Derrick cares.
- Now permanently tired and irritable, Derrick and Jen’s relationship hangs by a thread.
Clearly, neglecting the fact that your partner is suffering from your sleep apnea too is not a good plan for keeping your relationship intact. Instead of ignoring the problem like Derrick, it’s far better to acknowledge it as a medical condition and take action to fight it together.
4 Tips for Making your Sleep Apnea More Bearable
Sleep apnea can be a devastating condition and the fact that snoring is a leading cause of divorce is not something to take lightly. To keep your relationship strong, it’s important to respect that your sleep apnea is very likely affecting your significant other. Following these tips will help make your partner understand that you care about them and are in this fight together:
Complete Transparency
Even if you’re naturally quiet, it’s important to be open and honest with your partner regarding your sleep apnea treatment. In the cautionary example above, Derrick didn’t take Jen’s concerns seriously and she grew more resentful – avoid this by updating your partner on the progress you’re making and sympathizing with their concerns about getting enough sleep.
Show that You’re Proactive About Treatment
If your partner is woken up at night because of your sleep apnea, they’re going to be a lot more forgiving if they know that you’re doing all you can to fight the disorder. This means maintaining a relationship with your doctor, following through with the treatments they recommend, and staying proactive about eliminating your sleep apnea for good. Your partner will notice the effort.
Strive for Fitness
Did you know that 2 out of every 3 sleep apnea sufferers are obese? Obesity is so closely linked to sleep apnea that it’s known as both a cause and a symptom of the disorder. If your partner sees that you’re truly trying to change your condition by beginning a workout plan at your local gym for example, then they’re much more likely to stick by you as you fight your condition.
Make Smart Dietary Choices
If you claim that you’re doing all you can to fight your sleep apnea problem, but your partner sees you buying donuts or some other junk food, they won’t believe that you’re giving your best effort. Convince them that you’re truly striving to be healthier by buying fresh foods and eating your meals in responsible portions. Plus, completely avoiding junk food will help a lot in your fight against sleep apnea.
Visit Dr. Barney in Tucson, AZ for Sleep Apnea Treatment!
Sleep apnea takes a toll on every part of your life – including your relationships. Don’t let such a perilous disorder go untreated. At Desert Sleep Solutions, we provide reliable treatment methods to manage your snoring problem. Different treatments work better for different patients, so visit our office in Tucson to see what we can do for you. Contact us today!