A snoring partner can completely disrupt your life. Their loud snoring can keep you awake most of the night, making it difficult to focus at work, manage daily frustrations, and even enjoy time with your loved ones. Lack of sleep can take a toll on your health, mood, and relationship, leaving you feeling exhausted and irritable.
If you share a bed with a snorer, you’re not alone. Many couples struggle with sleep disturbances caused by chronic snoring, which is often a sign of sleep apnea. Without treatment, this condition can lead to fatigue, irritability, and serious health risks.
At Michigan Center for TMJ & Sleep Wellness, we help patients and their partners find lasting solutions for snoring and sleep apnea. Our SLEEP APNEA PRECISION APPROACH™ provides a comfortable, effective alternative to CPAP therapy, ensuring both better sleep and better health.
If snoring is affecting your sleep, your partner’s health, or your relationship, there are steps you can take to address it.
Approach the Situation with Compassion
We understand—your lack of sleep makes you irritable and frustrated. It’s tempting to lash out at your partner, especially when their snoring keeps you awake for hours. However, it’s important to remember that they are not sleeping well either.
Why Snoring Happens
Snoring occurs when airflow becomes restricted, causing turbulence that leads to vibrations in the airway. This turbulence can be caused by:
- Blocked nasal passages
- Poor jaw alignment
- Weak airway muscles
- Sleep apnea
Many snorers wake up frequently during the night without realizing it, leaving them exhausted and irritable during the day. Some patients have alignment issues with their jaw, tongue, and throat, which can be corrected with a custom oral appliance that improves airflow.
Since both of you are sleep-deprived, it’s essential to stay calm, rational, and patient when discussing snoring treatment.
Choose the Right Time to Talk
The worst time to bring up snoring or sleep apnea is in the middle of the night or after a restless morning. Instead, choose a time when your partner is relaxed and receptive.
Some people deny their snoring or downplay its impact. Others may need multiple conversations before accepting treatment. If they don’t respond right away, be patient and persistent—their health depends on it.
Understand Sleep Apnea
Snoring is more than just a nuisance—it’s often a warning sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). When someone snores loudly, their airway may be partially closing. In severe cases, their throat completely collapses, cutting off breathing altogether.
This forces the brain to wake them hundreds of times per night, even if they don’t remember it. Over time, untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of:
- Heart disease and stroke
- High blood pressure
- Dementia and memory loss
- Diabetes and weight gain
- Depression and mood disorders
If your partner snores and occasionally chokes or gasps for air, it is important to consider a sleep apnea evaluation.
Recommend a Sleep Apnea Test
If you suspect your partner’s snoring is linked to sleep apnea, encourage them to take a sleep test. Many people avoid testing because they assume it requires an overnight stay in a sleep lab. However, at-home sleep studies are now widely available and covered by insurance.
These tests:
- Are simple, non-invasive, and easy to complete at home
- Provide accurate diagnostic results
- Allow for early intervention before serious health risks develop
Let your partner know that testing is quick and easy, and that treatment can drastically improve their quality of life.
Comfortable, Convenient Treatment Options
Many people avoid seeking sleep apnea treatment because they assume CPAP is the only option. While CPAP therapy is effective, many people struggle with:
- Mask discomfort
- Dry mouth and sinus irritation
- Loud machine noise
- Difficult maintenance and travel restrictions
If your partner is reluctant about CPAP, let them know there are alternative treatments available. At Michigan Center for TMJ & Sleep Wellness, we offer SLEEP APNEA PRECISION APPROACH™, a custom-fitted oral appliance designed to:
- Keep the airway open without a mask
- Reduce snoring and nighttime awakenings
- Improve sleep quality for both partners
- Protect the jaw from excessive tension and TMJ strain
This approach eliminates the need for bulky CPAP machines, providing a comfortable, effective solution for sleep apnea sufferers.
Find Your Sleep Solution If Necessary
If your partner refuses to seek treatment, you may need to take steps to protect your own sleep. Common strategies include:
- Wearing earplugs to reduce noise
- Using a white noise generator to block out sound
- Sleeping in a separate room as a last resort
While these solutions may provide temporary relief, they do not address the root cause of the problem. Snoring and untreated sleep apnea can have serious health consequences, and it’s important to encourage your partner to take action.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment in the Detroit Area
At Michigan Center for TMJ & Sleep Wellness, we have helped countless patients eliminate snoring, improve sleep quality, and restore their health. Whether you are looking for a better way to treat sleep apnea or want to explore CPAP alternatives, we can help.
Call (248) 480-0085 today or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jeffrey Haddad.
