Could Snoring Be Putting Your Relationship to Bed?

Photo: Stocksy/Julien L Balmer
Maybe you're someone who passes out and doesn't make a sound until morning, or maybe you could be mistaken for a jackhammer upon closing your eyes. Well, for the sake of your relationship, it's probably best to fall in the former camp.

If you snore, you may get through the night effortlessly (as far as you know, that is)—but if your partner snores, there's a good chance you can't remember what a full night of uninterrupted sleep actually feels like. And, that's the problem with snoring: The one who's kept awake all night long is the one who suffers the most consequences.

According to The Cut, snoring isn't typically taken too seriously—and that's a mistake. The slumber-time trumpeting is incredibly common, with nearly 60 percent of men and 40 percent of women admitting they snore at night in a 2009 study. So, it's statistically likely that snoring has made its way into your bedroom, and being deprived of all those benefits from sleep isn't good for anyone.

Sleep deprivation can put a major strain on your relationship as well as cause impaired memory, moodiness, depression, obesity, and a lower sex drive.

Sleep deprivation can put a major strain on your relationship that may cause you to have hostile fights with your significant other. On top of that, lack of sleep—the goal is seven to nine hours a night for adults—can cause depleted alertness, impaired memory, moodiness, and a poor quality of life, as well as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, obesity, depression, premature wrinkling, and a lower sex drive, says the Cleveland Clinic. Seems like a solid list of reasons to keep anything, let alone a snoring bunkmate, stand between you and ample beauty rest, right?

Because snorers tend to sleep just fine despite the sounds they're making, they don't necessarily experience the health effects their REM-deprived partners do, which is why the dozing musicians might not see it as a problem at first. But whether you're the snorer or the one rocking earplugs, there are some things that can be done to help with the problem.

There's a new pillow insert called Smart Nora that adjusts the snorer's head just enough to turn down the volume, says The Cut. And lifestyle changes, which are free, like losing weight, avoiding alcohol before going to bed, and sleeping on your side can stop storing in its tracks, says the Mayo Clinic. But since snoring can also indicate a more serious condition—like sleep apnea—it's best to see a doc to find the best option.

Here's one easy thing you can add to your routine for better sleep. And for an extra boost, grab these sleep-inducing essential oils.

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