We don't quite believe this statistic, but it seems that as many as 80% of snoring couples end up in separate bedrooms. This was a
finding reported at
the 2001 conference of the American College Of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, based on a study of 4900 snoring couples.
True or not, there's no downplaying the distress felt by the partner of someone who snores loudly every night. You can probably write this script yourself...a person wakes up tired and irritable, picks a fight with the snoring partner, which leads to a bad day followed by another night of not sleeping. More bad temper, more poor performance at work. Tiredness leading to depression and continued deterioration of the marital relationship. Yes, folks, snoring can lead to divorce.
So, what can you do if your partner snores?
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First, convince them of the seriousness of the problem. Not only to your relationship and to your own well being, but to theirs. Urge them take the Putan EndtoSnoring questionnaire to see if they have symptoms of an underlying sleep disorder. Have them try the recommended remedies. |
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If they need more convincing, tape record them snoring.
Offer to buy some remedies that you can both use (e.g.
throat sprays or
marjoram oil).
He or she might be embarrassed about the problem -- and this
will help to make the issue seem more common and mundane. |
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See if you can mask the noise, for example with ear plugs
or a sound therapy
CD or machine. (We realize that some of you will laugh at this suggestion -- the snorer in your household is so loud that the neighbors complain!)
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Bring your problem to one or more of the online support groups and share ideas or at least commiserate. Try the forum at About, or our own message board. |
Whatever you do, don't suffer alone. Thousands of people understand your problem and are able to help.
Q: Why do female black widow
spiders kill their males after mating?
A: To stop the
snoring before it starts. |
