Second Hand Snoring

You May Have a Sleep Disordered Breathing Problem, Too

Does your bed partner snore so loud that your sleep is disturbed?

Sharing a bed with a snorer can affect your quality of life and also be harmful to your physical and emotional health. In many cases, both bed partners suffer from sleep-disordered breathing and sleep deprivation although only one has clinical signs and symptoms of snoring or sleep apnea. Often, snorers do not take complaints from their bed partner seriously or act in denial – which can make the situation worse.

Research shows that people who sleep next to someone who snores also experience physical and emotional consequences. Snoring and sleep apnea are unique in that they are  conditions that can affect two people, although only one person has the problem.

How Snoring and Sleep Apnea Affects Bed Partners

  • Sleep deprivation
  • High levels of fatigue and daytime sleepiness
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Higher rate of aches and pains
  • Hearing loss, especially limited to the one ear most exposed to the snoring
  • Depression or poorer mental health
  • Irritability
  • Memory impairment
  • Increased risk for accidents

One Mayo Clinic study found that the bed partners of people who snore woke at least partially an average of 21 times per hour. This is nearly as often as the 27 times per hour that the “snorers” were awakened by their own documented sleep disorders (such as sleep apnea).

 

Recognizing a More Serious Problem: Sleep Apnea

Have you ever noticed that your partner regularly stops breathing or suddenly gasps or chokes when asleep?

If your answer to this question is “yes,” there is a high likelihood that your partner’s snoring is a sign of a more serious sleep disordered breathing problem.

Research has shown that a bed partner’s observation of apnea (periods of no breathing) is a good predictor of obstructive sleep apnea.

How to Take an Active Role

The TAP family of products Treats Bed Partners Too! You can be proactive and help your bed partner get treated so you both get better sleep.

The TAP family of products treats the bed partners of patients as much as the snorer. Once the snoring goes away, the bed partner gets more rest and starts to feel better. Sometimes the bed partner doesn’t realize how bad the snoring was affecting his or her sleep until the snoring goes away.

Try these tips:

  • Suggest that you both get screened for sleep disordered breathing to see if either of you has a problem that could lead to something more serious
  • Discuss the negative health effects of sleep deprivation
  • Research different treatment options and discuss with your partner
  • Ask your partner to discuss his/her snoring with his/her primary care doctor
  • Tell a story about a friend who had a positive experience with treatment
  • Show your partner what patients have said about using a TAP.