People like to know that they aren’t alone in what they are going through and that’s why I decided to write this odd post today. I have had personal experience of snoring and sleeping in another room and I know countless friends and clients who are experiencing the separate bedroom syndrome due to snoring. In fact, I am beginning to think it’s the norm!
Some women move to the another bedroom permanently due to the nocturnal noise whilst others only  migrate on those nights when snoring is particularly bad. Some women are secretly quite pleased about the snoring as it gives them a legitimate reason to move to another room thereby reducing the opportunities for unwelcome sex. Whatever the circumstances – separate bedroom sleeping is definitely on the rise. Those that do not have a second bedroom resort to the couch. Anything for a peaceful night’s sleep, it seems.
According to the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association the following are causes of snoring:
Overeating and lack of exercise:
Overeating and/or lack of exercise leads to an increase in fat around the throat. Men tend to get fat around their necks and waists, whereas women seem to put on weight around the thighs.Being overweight by just a few kilograms can be the cause of your snoring. If you have fatty tissue around your neck you will find that during sleep it squeezes the airway and prevents air from flowing in and out freely.
Alcohol and Sleeping Pills:
Alcohol travels to all areas of the body and slows the brain’s responses, causing the muscles to relax even more than during a normal night’s sleep. Alcohol also acts as a depressant. The added relaxation of the musculature causes the oropharynx to collapse more readily causing further snoring.
Smoking:
Cigarette smoke irritates the lining of the nasal cavity and throat causing swelling and catarrh. If the nasal passages become congested it is difficult to breathe through your nose because the airflow is decreased. The likelihood of snoring increases as more cigarettes are smoked per day because the congestion increases with each cigarette.
Sleeping Position:
Individuals who suffer ‘retrognathia‘ (receding chin) tend to snore when sleeping on their back. The airway tends to be more stable in the lateral position and less likely to collapse.
Allergy:
The lining of the nose and throat swells which prevents correct breathing through the nasal airway and is often worse at night.
Small or Collapsing Nostrils:
If for any reason nasal breathing is not possible our body’s self-preservation mechanism forces us to breathe through the mouth.
Tongue Base Snorer:
If you are a ‘tongue base snorer’, this means that you snore because your airway is liable to vibrate at the base of the tongue.
Multifactoral Snoring:
A variety of reasons are contributing to snoring.
There is nothing worse than trying to get to sleep with someone roaring in your ear. Some try to get to sleep before their snoring partner comes to bed but the pressure to fall asleep quickly often prohibits easy sleep and anxiety appears, adding to the already tense situation. It really isn’t a laughing matter when you’re sleep deprived. If you value your relationship and sleeping in the same bed, it might be worth figuring out which of the above are relevant and seek help to sort out the snoring. I have seen couples split up over snoring…really.
For further information on snoring and how to deal with it CLICK HERE
Mandy X
SOURCE:
https://www.britishsnoring.co.uk/why_do_i_snore/introduction_to_causes_snoring.php
Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
