After a long day at work, don’t you just love tucking into a warm bed and falling asleep next to your partner? Research shows that sleeping alongside someone can actually lead to lower blood pressure and lower levels of stress hormones. However, you may end up having to sleep on the coach if you snore! Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, and it can disrupt both a person’s sleep and their relationships. Keep reading to learn why relationships suffer due to sleep apnea and how a dentist can help.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person experiences repeated interruptions of breathing while they sleep. These brief interruptions, which last for 10 seconds or longer, can occur dozens or even hundreds of times each night.
Sleep apnea affects an estimated 20 million Americans each year. The most common form, known as obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when a person’s neck tissue relaxes and blocks airflow. If left untreated, sleep apnea can contribute to serious health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, and more.
Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Snoring
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Waking up with a dry mouth
- Waking up gasping for breath
- Daytime sleepiness
- Trouble concentrating at work
- Insomnia
- Weight gain
- Depression or anxiety
How Does Sleep Apnea Impact Relationships?
Sleep apnea symptoms can negatively impact your relationship with others in a variety of ways.
Irritability
If you don’t get enough quality sleep due to sleep apnea, you may feel irritable during the day. Irritability can lead you to snap at coworkers or loved ones. You may end up hurting someone’s feelings or even getting into trouble at work.
Snoring
Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea. In fact, many patients first seek treatment after their partners stop sleeping alongside them because of their loud snoring. No one enjoys sleeping on the couch!
Intimacy Problems
Men who suffer from sleep apnea may also experience erectile dysfunction, which can of course interfere with romance.
How to Overcome Sleep Apnea
Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce snoring and other sleep apnea symptoms, such as:
- Limiting caffeine consumption
- Quitting smoking
- Diet and exercise
- Avoiding alcohol
- Avoiding sleeping pills
If these lifestyle changes aren’t effective for you, don’t hesitate to contact a dental professional. An experienced sleep dentist will be able to create a customized oral appliance to reduce your sleep apnea symptoms. An oral appliance is a small mouthpiece worn at night that repositions the jaw to prevent airflow from becoming blocked.
Don’t let sleep apnea ruin your sleep and your relationships! If you (or your partner) are having trouble sleeping due to this disorder, ask your dentist about oral appliance therapy.
About the Author
With over three decades of experience, Dr. Pamela West knows how to help patients overcome sleep apnea symptoms. She leads the team at iSleepSolutions, the first and only accredited dental sleep facility in Las Vegas. To learn more about the impact of sleep apnea on relationships and the benefits of treatment, visit the iSleepSolutions website or call 702-844-6226.