Plenty of people snore at least a little bit. Causes of snoring can range from having a beer too close to bedtime to serious sleep apnea. No matter where the snores are coming from, whether it’s you or your sleeping partner, the effects can seep into everyday life. Learn how snoring can affect the quality of your life and get a head start on treating the core issues!
Daytime Irritability
When you haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep, you may find yourself snapping at your family and coworkers. Whether you wake up from your partner’s snoring or your own, interrupted sleep keeps you from reaching the REM stage.
Strain on Your Heart
If you’re the one snoring, and you keep waking up to gasp for air, you may have obstructive sleep apnea. Untreated sleep apnea can raise your blood pressure and put you at higher risk for heart disease later in life. Consult with a snoring specialist and work together on a treatment plan that will keep you breathing comfortably all night.
Anxiety and Depression
Sleep deprivation can cause symptoms of mental distress—or exacerbate the symptoms of existing mental health concerns. When you’re not getting quality sleep at night due to snoring, your body produces excess cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. Sleep-deprived individuals with anxiety or depression often turn to alcohol to take the edge off, contributing to even more snoring.
Hearing Loss
If your sleeping partner is the one snoring, and you sleep next to them every night, you’re getting a nightly eight-hour dose of excess noise. Constant exposure to loud noise, especially when the source of that noise is next to your ears, can cause slow but steady hearing loss.
Relationship Stress
When only one half of a couple snores, the other half gets desperate for solutions. To preserve the quality of your relationship, the two of you may brainstorm ideas—like earplugs or nasal strips—that end up not working. Some couples even wind up sleeping in separate rooms to solve the noise complaint, but that separation can also weigh on your bond.
Whether the snoring comes from you, your partner, or both, those snores have loud reverberations in your daily life. If you find yourself stressed or irritated during the day, remember how snoring can affect the quality of your life and brainstorm healthy, lasting solutions.
