What can you give your partner this Valentine’s Day to show that you care? There are plenty of popular ideas such as chocolate and flowers. But if your partner snores, then they might appreciate the gift of quieter, more restful nights – especially if the noise is a side effect of a serious sleep disorder. Below is a closer look at what might be causing your partner’s snoring and how you can help them find a solution.
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring occurs when relaxed tissues near the back of the throat partially block the airway during sleep. As air makes its way through the narrowed airway, it can make the tissues vibrate, causing a loud sound.
It’s important to note that in many cases, snoring can be a symptom of an all-too-common sleep disorder known as sleep apnea. This condition typically occurs when an obstruction of the airway causes a sleeping person’s breathing to repeatedly stop and restart. Each pause in breathing can interrupt the sleep cycle by forcing the brain to wake the body up for air. Consequently, individuals with sleep apnea often have trouble getting quality rest.
How Can You Help Your Partner with Their Snoring?
Untreated sleep apnea can have dire health consequences, not the least of which is a significantly higher risk of suffering a heart attack. As such, if there’s a chance that your partner’s snoring is linked to sleep apnea, it’s important to have the issue diagnosed and addressed promptly.
You can help your partner find a solution to their snoring by making arrangements for a sleep test. This involves using a special device to monitor a patient’s vital signs while they’re asleep. A physician can look at the results of a sleep test in order to make a diagnosis for sleep apnea.
If sleep-disordered breathing is indeed to blame for your partner’s snoring, you can further help them by taking them to a dentist who can treat the underlying problem. Many dentists offer oral appliances that adjust the position of the lower jaw, which can help keep the airway clear at night and lower the chances of breathing being interrupted.
Alternatively, certain dental practices offer laser treatment for sleep apnea. With this approach, a laser is used to tighten the soft tissues near the back of the throat, making them less likely to collapse and block the airway at night.
Helping your partner get the treatment they need for the cause of their snoring could ultimately allow them to enjoy better quality sleep. And of course, putting a stop to the noise can result in more peaceful nights for both of you!
About the Author
Dr. Russell Teasdale has more than four decades of dental experience under his belt. He earned his dental degree at the Washington University School of Dental Medicine in St. Louis. He is a Fellow of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, and he is involved with the VIVOS Institute as well as Spear Education. For patients with sleep apnea, he offers customized oral appliances as well as gentle laser treatments. If you think you or your partner might have sleep apnea, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Teasdale at Evolution Dental in Portland by visiting his website or calling (503) 974-3829.