Romance and flowers typify the ‘Valentine’s Day’ dream… until one bed partner snores like sawing logs and ‘bang’ the dream is shattered and you’re sleeping alone.
Enter Keith White, who at 34 years old isn’t the obvious stereotype to admit that snoring is damaging his relationship. But he and his girlfriend Jenny, 24, are already sleeping in separate beds due to his snoring.
“Jenny and I met through work four years ago. She was my best friend first and foremost and our relationship really developed out of that, but it wasn’t until we started going out that she became aware that I was a loud snorer.”
“We often laugh about snoring and don’t take it very seriously but in reality it can drive couples apart.
“Unfortunately, my snoring is so loud that every night I have to sleep in a separate bed or on the sofa. Sleeping apart from Jenny means that we miss out of a lot of intimacy, like cuddling,” says Keith.
“Inevitably this has caused distance in our relationship because from 11pm to 7am every day we are physically separated. I know that when we stay in a hotel together I am keeping her awake.”
“It’s frustrating that something so common can cause so much pain in our relationship. I know it’s not sustainable and I worry about the impact of snoring on our relationship.
Snoring, a form of Sleep Disordered Breathing, interferes with sleep quality and sleep quantity – for the person who snores and also for the person who sleeps with or near the snorer.
With nearly half of the Australian population regularly snoring and 70% of snorers stating that it affects their daytime functioning(1), no wonder snoring is having an impact on relationships. A recent survey in the UK found 38% of couples are sleeping apart due to snoring(2).
As top divorce lawyer, Marilyn Stowe of Stowe Family Law LLP, comments:
“Sleep disorders and the pressure of sharing a bed causing interrupted sleep patterns can have a serious impact on a relationship. Couples may choose to sleep in separate rooms and drift further apart in a process of ‘unconscious uncoupling’.”
Luckily for Keith, he’s sought ways to address his snoring. There is no magic ‘cure’ for snoring, but there are a number of options available. A new product called ‘Mute’ available in selected pharmacies and online at mutesnoring.com is capturing a strong network of snorers.
“[Mute’s] been brilliant at increasing air flow and helping me reduce my snoring,” commented Keith.
There are many good reasons to treat snoring, including restoring sleep quality, guarding against risks to health and improving daytime functioning. Protecting the health and intimacy of your relationship is another important reason to acknowledge a snoring problem…and restore that ‘Valentine’s day’ feeling.
Sources:
1. UK independent survey of 2,032 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 9th – 10th July 2015. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
2. ‘2016 Sleep Health Survey of Australian Adults’ to the Sleep Health Foundation. http://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/pdfs/surveys/SleepHealthFoundation-Survey.pdf
