Habitual snoring is more than just a nighttime annoyance; it is also related to high blood pressure, heart disease, and daytime fatigue, according to the authors of a December 2006 study published in the Journal of Sleep Research. In fact, the results of their study indicated that snoring regularly is associated with a cocktail of health related problems; both men and women who snore have higher triglycerides, body mass indexes, waist circumferences, fasting glucose levels, and total cholesterol levels than their non-snoring counterparts.
As if the health consequences correlated with snoring aren’t discouraging enough, additional research indicates that snoring can have a negative impact on intimate relationships.
Snoring and Relationship Complications
A 2003 study in Clinical Otolaryngology & Allied Sciences found that 20 percent of snorers mentioned relationship problems as a top concern associated with their snoring, with 20 percent also reporting sleeping in separate beds from their partners.
Earlier research also began to investigate the impact of snoring on relationship satisfaction. A report featured in a 1999 edition of Clinical Otolaryngology & Allied Sciences discussed the results of a four-year Snoring Clinic run by the Department of Otolaryngology at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, noting that “snoring places huge strains on interpersonal relationships” (Armstrong, Wallace, & Marais, 1999, p. 510). Study participants often voiced concern that if snoring continued, divorce or separation would result. Perhaps the most disheartening finding of the study was the fact that 85 percent of snorers typically slept in separate beds from their partners.
Relationship strains are also present between couples who sleep in the same bed, despite the fact that one of the partners snores. A study in the February 2007 edition of the Journal of Advanced Nursing interviewed participants, and one of the snorers mentioned that his wife was unable to sleep, and the issue likely would have led to divorce had the couple not been married for 30 years. Study participants also mentioned nonexistent sex lives resulting from their snoring.
Potential for Relationship Improvement After Snoring Ceases
Fortunately, relationships can return to a satisfactory state if patients deal with the issue of snoring. The Snoring Clinic in Edinburg found that after corrective surgery, relationships improved significantly, with participants reporting “good/very good” relationships.
Surgery may not be an option for all snorers, but everyone can still take steps to prevent or reduce the incidence of snoring, and hopefully improve the satisfaction levels in their relationships. A May 2002 edition of the Harvard Health Letter recommends weight loss and decreased alcohol consumption as solutions to snoring. Refraining from sleeping on one’s back may also serve as a remedy.
References
Armstrong, M., Wallace, C., & Marais, J. (1999). "The effect of surgery upon the quality of life in snoring patients and their partners: a between-subjects case-controlled trial." Clinical Otolaryngology & Allied Sciences, 24(6), 510-522.
Brostrom, A., Johansson, P., Stromberg, A., Albers, J., Martensson, J., & Svanborg, E. (2007). "Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome- patients’ perceptions of their sleep and its effect on their life situation." Journal of Advanced Nursing, 57(3), 318-327.
"Help for snorers" (2002). Harvard Health Letter, 27(7), 3.
Joo, S., Lee, S., Choi, H., Kim, J., Kim, E., Kimm, K., Kim, J., & Shin, C. (2006). "Habitual snoring is associated with elevated hemoglobin A levels in non-obese middle-aged adults." Journal of Sleep Research, 15(4), 437-444.
Scott, S., Ah-See, K., Richardson, H., & Wilson, J. (2003). "A comparison of physician and patient perception of the problems of habitual snoring." Clinical Otolaryngology & Allied Sciences, 28(1), 18-21.
Jennifer Long - Jennifer Long holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the Ohio State University and has completed research projects in the field.
