Dealing With a Spouse Who Snores
When you walk down the aisle on your wedding day, you make a commitment to your future spouse to stand by their side no matter what hardships life throws your way. You vow to be together “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do you part.” While that may seem like an easy thing to agree to on your wedding day, the reality of it can be hard to handle, especially when your spouse has a respiratory disorder such as snoring. And while divorce might seem like an overly dramatic solution to the problem, snoring can be frustrating enough to cause marriage problems if not dealt with properly.
Getting enough sleep at night is very important. Without sleep, our bodies aren’t able to function the way they should. In addition to being tired, groggy, and grumpy constantly, your immune system also weakens, your body muscles and head ache, your blood pressure and stress level increases significantly, and you also have a much higher risk of developing incurable illnesses, such as diabetes and fibromyalgia. It’s also very unsafe to drive or work while in this state because you are in a constant fog. Unfortunately, if you have a spouse who snores, you’re likely dealing with it one of two ones. Either the snoring spouse gets woken up and forced to sleep on the couch, or the frustrated spouse leaves the room to sleep on the couch instead. Either way, only one person is getting the proper rest they needed.
The first step in dealing with a spouse who snores is to try and figure out the cause of the problem. Snoring can be a sign of many different issues, but some of the most common are sleep apnea, obesity, mispositioned jaw, and poor diet. A doctor will be able to test for and pinpoint the exact reason for why your spouse is snoring. Then, treatment can begin.
While waiting to see a doctor, there are several home remedies that can be tried. Because poor diet is a very common cause of snoring, both partners should be sure that they’re eating healthy, and at least four hours before bed. In particular, diary products, such as milk and cheese, or carbohydrates, such as white bread or white potatoes, should be avoided at dinner time as they increase the chances of nighttime snoring.
Another common cause of snoring is consuming a form of relaxants before bed, such as alcohol or sleeping pills. Because these force your body to relax, the throat muscles of the body also relax, which can cause snoring. For this reason, its recommended that all forms of relaxants be avoided unless medically needed.
In some cases, the reason for snoring is as simple as the position in which you sleep. The majority of people who snore sleep on their back. As your tongue flops back into your throat, the loud noise that snoring makes is heard. While it may not work for everyone, some people may find relief by having their spouse sleep on their side or stomach instead. Keep in mind however, that if you’ve been sleeping on your back all your life, you’re likely to roll back into the position during the night. Learning to successfully sleep on your side or stomach may take some time.
Purchasing a mouth guard is another easy remedy that can give both partners some much needed rest. These guards move the jaw slightly lower, which in turn alters the position of the tongue. This method is particularly helpful if the spouse is suffering from sleep apnea, as it also improves breathing. Mouth guards can be custom made at your local dentist, or if you prefer a quicker route, purchased at a local pharmacy. These guards are dipped in boiling water, then placed inside the spouses mouth, custom fitting to their mouth. At night, simply place the guard in your mouth and sleep.
If none of those remedies are working and you’re currently unable to see a doctor, the non-snoring spouse may need to try something as well.
Earplugs have been particularly helpful in blocking our noise, especially if the non-snoring spouse is able to fall asleep before the snoring begins. Make sure to buy earplugs made specifically for sleeping, as these are much softer and more comfortable compared to earplugs made for sporting purposes.
A white noise machine can also be used to block out the sound of snoring. If you’re unable to purchase the machine, a box fan set on high can be used in a pinch. If it’s too cold for a fan, simply face it towards a wall. There are many websites that double as white noise makers as well, such as SimplyNoise.com. The website can be loaded at night, then turned off when the snorer awakens.
Finally, as frustrating as snoring can be, try and have patience with your spouse and remember that snoring is something that can’t be helped. Instead of becoming angry at one another, use that frustration to work together to solve the problem. Then, you’ll both be able to rest easy at night.
