It’s 2 am, and you’re lying awake. Why? Because you are lying next to somebody who snores. While they are having the sleep of their dreams, you’re living a waking nightmare because you can’t nod off while you’re sharing bed space with a person whose incessant noise is probably troubling the neighbors too.
What are you to do? Now, you could kick them out of bed and relegate them to the spare room. Alternatively, you could set up camp in the spare room yourself. For a perfect night’s sleep, this isn’t such a bad idea. However, there are other ways you can handle the problem.
#1: Consider the reasons why they are snoring
Your spouse isn’t snoring to purposefully wind you up. There are reasons why people snore, and by getting to the bottom of them, you might be able to do something about the problem.
As an example, it might be because your spouse has consumed alcohol shortly before bedtime. Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles, and this can cause snoring. Therefore, suggest to your spouse that he stops drinking at least two hours before bed.
Smoking is another habit that can cause snoring, so while there should be no need for an incentive for your spouse to quit – we all know the health dangers – suggest that they take up vaping instead as a means to kick the habit.
Your partner might be snoring because he is sleeping on his back. This can inhibit airflow, and consequently, can cause your partner to snore. Asking them to sleep on their side might solve the problem. Hint: you could gently turn your partner over on to his side should he fall back into his usual sleeping position.
Another issue you need to consider is dehydration. If your partner has a dry mouth or throat, this can amplify the snoring sounds he is making. Providing him with a glass of water to keep him hydrated throughout the night might alleviate the problem.
Finally, you need to know that certain medical conditions and health issues can cause snoring.
A deviated septum in the nose, for example, can restrict airflow and cause your partner to snore. They might need surgery to realign the walls of their nose to solve the issue.
If your partner is prone to allergies that cause difficulty with breathing, they should see a doctor for the relevant medications to alleviate their condition and their heavy breathing noises.
And if your partner suffers from a serious sleeping condition, such as sleep apnea which can restrict the airways, they might need specialist help. Visit novapulmonary.com to discover the help that is available.
#2: Other steps you can take
Chances are, your partner snores because of one of the reasons we listed above. Follow our suggestions, and you might see an end to the problem.
However, there are other things you can do to help yourself.
Firstly, you can block the sounds your partner makes by using sleep aids. Earplugs, white noise machines, and noise-canceling headphones are just some of the items at your disposal that will help you to sleep, despite the sound of snoring next to you.
Secondly, you might want to consider anti-snoring aids. From nose vents to nasal pillows, there are a lot of items on the market that can control and even eliminate the snoring sounds your partner makes. Check the linked article for more.
Finally
A good night’s sleep is important, so don’t let your partner’s snoring defeat your chances. Consider the causes and solutions to snoring, and use the relevant sleep aids if you need to. You will then have a better night’s sleep, and your partner will too, because he won’t have been woken up in the night by your foot and an angry cry of “go and sleep downstairs!”
Thanks for reading.