How to Get Better Sleep and Stop Snoring

Most people don’t know they have sleep apnea, until their partner complains about the snoring noises coming from the other side of the bed.

About 90 million Americans (and their partners) suffer from snoring, and about half of them also have sleep apnea. Both snoring and sleep apnea affect your health and quality of sleep, but they’re not one in the same.

What’s the Difference Between Snoring and Sleep Apnea?

Snoring and sleep apnea are alarming for the people that have to sleep in the bed next to you. Snoring is alarming in the sense that it will wake your bed partner up. Sleep apnea is alarming in the sense that your bed partner will probably be scared for your health.

Regular snoring occurs when your airway narrows, resulting in a loud vibrating sound. Snoring can be caused by a number of things. Sometimes it’s caused from anatomical issues, like extra tissue in your throat, being overweight, having enlarged tonsils, big adenoids, a long soft palate, or a long uvula. Snoring can also be caused by acute problems like allergies, congestion, or nasal deformities.

Other outside factors can induce snoring like certain drugs, muscle relaxants, smoking, or alcohol. This is because these substances relax your throat and tongue muscles, creating extreme ZzZs.

Sleep apnea is also characterized by loud snoring sounds, but just because you snore doesn’t mean you have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious health condition, in which your airway gets obstructed. When you have sleep apnea, your snoring will sound like you aren’t getting enough oxygen. In fact, this starvation of oxygen is what wakes you from sleep.

If you think you or your partner has sleep apnea, you’ll be able to tell, because it will literally sound like they’re gasping for air. Sleep apnea snoring is different from regular snoring in that it is a lot louder and startling. People with sleep apnea sound like they’re choking on air.

Getting Your Partner to Stop Snoring

If your partner snores, then you’ve come to the right page. Sleeping next to a snorer can be exasperating.

Nothing will make you more bitter at your partner than getting woken up by their loud noises, then looking over to see them blissfully asleep and unaware of the loud noises coming from their mouth area. Instead of forcing your partner to sleep on the couch, you can help them fix their sleep snoring.

• Nasal snoring. If your partner is suffering from general snoring caused by their nose, you can help them by getting them nasal strips, decongestants, or nasal spray. These prophylactics will help widen their nasal airway, ensuring that there are no vibrations.
• Mouth snoring. If your partner’s snoring originates from their mouth, you can help them by reducing throat swelling or keeping their mouth closed. Chin-up strips, oral snore guards, and mouth spray are all great ways to get your partner’s snoring under control.
• Tongue-induced snores. If your partner’s snoring stems from an enlarged tongue, you can use a mandibular advancement device. These work by holding the lower jaw and tongue forward, so there’s more space for oxygen to pass through their mouth.
• Sleeping positions. Beyond these devices, there are other tips you can integrate into their lifestyle to silence their snoring. Sometimes people snore when they sleep on their back, because it closes their airways. Flip your partner onto their side, making sure that they’re getting plenty of oxygen. Another way to mute their snoring is by making sure they’re being healthy. A healthy diet and exercise routine will decrease the fat in their throat.

If you’ve tried everything you can to get your partner to stop snoring or think they might have sleep apnea, take them to York Dental Sleep Therapy. We will get to the bottom of your partner’s sleep issues, so that the both of you can sleep soundly again.