Sleep Deprivation – Your Spouse’s Snoring Takes a Toll on Your Health

On our blog here we often discuss the health consequences for a person who snores. We’ve talked in detail about the dangers of snoring, especially sleep apnea which can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, lung dysfunction and stroke. However what also needs to be brought to light are the health implications on the spouse whose sleep is interrupted by their snoring sleep partner.

A new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has found that even five consecutive nights of four hours or less of sleep per night has the same negative affects on the brain and body than total sleep deprivation.

Unfortunately for those who share a bed – or even the next room with a chronic snorer, a simple change in lifestyle like making sure you go to bed early enough to get 7-8 hours of sleep need to totally restore the body’s brain and muscle function isn’t an option.

After 5 days with only 4 hours of sleep your body will show signs of exhaustion. Symptoms include:

• Lethargy, which make even the simplest tasks seem difficult
• Impaired coordination—very dangerous if you need to be behind the wheel or operating equipment
• Blurred of vision
• Wearing down of the immune system which will cause you to pick up colds and other illnesses that you would be able to fend off if you had a strong immune system
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Impairment of cognitive function, making it more difficult to make a decision, especially if quick-thinking is needed
• It can even increase the resistance of insulin in the body, which leads to a risk of diabetes

If you are sleep deprived because of your spouse’s snoring, then it is in both of your best interest to seek help from a snoring specialist. Many snorers are hesitant to seek treatment because they are concerned that the only treatment options are surgery or the CPAP mask which they are afraid may be uncomfortable. However many minimally invasive techniques are available today to help treat snoring and sleep apnea on an out-patient basis.

If you’re in the New York Tri-State area, schedule an appointment at the Manhattan Snoring & Sleep Center, New York City’s top medical practice for snoring and sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment. The center’s medical/surgical snoring specialists offer the latest techniques to treat snoring and sleep apnea including the Pillar Procedure, Balloonplasty™ and even provide the Home Sleep Test for patients for whom an overnight sleep lab is not an option.

Disclaimer:
This article is intended for general information only is in no way intended to be a substitute for receiving direct medical advice from a medical professional, their diagnosis or treatment. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create a doctor-client relationship. If you have any questions regarding a medical condition, or if you suspect you may have a snoring disorder.