Does your partner's snoring keep you up? It could be impacting your health

Snoring is a common issue that can disrupt sleep for both the snorer and their partner, potentially impacting overall health. Dr Clare Simon, a dentist specializing in dental sleep medicine, explains that snoring occurs due to the vibration of soft tissues in the upper airways during sleep. Approximately 40% of adults in the UK snore, and most often it affects men. A US survey by the Sleep Foundation found that 75% of people with a snoring partner experience sleep disruption.

When a partner's snoring keeps you awake, you may feel stressed, unfocused, and forgetful the next day. This is because disrupted sleep prevents you from entering deep sleep stages, which are crucial for physical restoration and memory consolidation. Additionally, fragmented sleep can disrupt hormone regulation, affecting energy levels and motivation.

Sleep also plays a role in regulating the brain systems involved in stress and emotional response, so disrupted sleep can make you feel more irritable and less able to cope with stress.

Meg Warren, 29, experienced this firsthand when her former partner's snoring kept her awake. She felt constantly on high alert and would wake up feeling groggy and dazed, often suffering from a hangover-like feeling. The snoring even strained their relationship, leading Meg to suggest having a spare bedroom for nights of unbearable snoring.

Dr Simon advises that broken sleep caused by snoring can lead to irritability, arguments, and reduced intimacy. Anna-Louise Dearden, a 52-year-old journalist, sometimes sleeps in a separate room from her partner due to his snoring, which allows her to prioritize rest when the snoring is particularly bad. Earplugs have been a "life saver" for her, allowing her to sleep through most of the noise.

Experts recommend distinguishing whether your partner's snoring is simply snoring or if it's a sign of sleep apnoea, a disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. Signs of sleep apnoea include pauses in breathing, choking at night, frequent waking, and morning headaches. For sleep apnoea, treatments such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines or surgical procedures may be recommended.

For simple snoring, lifestyle changes can help, such as losing weight, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake before bed, changing sleeping positions, or using a custom mouthguard. If the snoring is caused by nasal obstruction, allergies, or other issues, consulting a GP or specialist can provide further guidance.