Snoring and the Tired Wife

Views: 949
Added: Thu. May 07, 2009 6:00pm
Posted in: Health

• » print
• » report
• » email

Women say it all the time.  “He snores like a freight train” or “he snores so loud they can hear him down the street.”  And in the end someone ends up sleeping on the couch.  The problem is that that snoring can mean that your spouse could have a sleep disorder.  The other problem is that sleep deprivation comes with its own set of problems that include fatigue, short term memory problems, and health problems such as high blood pressure. 

 

So who is responsible for getting help?  Most people who come for a sleep study do not want the study and do not want to be there.  Others say there is nothing wrong and think snoring is normal.  But the rule of thumb that if mama ain’t happy then no one is happy really makes sense when you think about the long term effects of snoring.

 

In my lab almost 50% of the men who come for a sleep study are there because their wife has complained that they snore.  Almost 20% of the women are there because their husbands complain they snore.  The effects of sleep deprivation on relationships can be fairly intense. Fatigue, short term memory issues and irritability are all signs of lack of sleep. 

 

When the snoring is treated many of my patients have told me how their relationships have improved.  In fact one husband said his CPAP caused his wife to be happier.  It was worth it just for that. 

 

When you have a sleep disorder sometimes you just need to take a step back and ask yourselves this simple question.  Who am I affecting with my problem besides myself?  If everyone in the house gets a good night sleep then everyone feels better has more energy, less pain, and is healthier.  Plus no one needs to sleep all weekend because they are trying to catch up on their sleep.  All in all talking to your doctor about snoring is a winning situation for everyone.

 

Amy Korn-Reavis, RRT, RPSGT has been in the respiratory field for over twenty years. She has worked in all areas and is currently focusing on sleep and how to help the community feel better by sleeping better. She is the manager of Emery Sleep Solutions an independent testing facility located in Apopka, Florida. She is also the coordinator of A.W.A.K.E. Orlando a support group for people with sleep disorders http://awakeorlando.ning.com. If you have any questions about sleep or are looking for someone to speak at your community function she can be reached at areavis@emerymedicalsolutions.com