Sure, you might feel great this morning. You could be sleeping as well as you ever have. But your partner? Well, it’s possible they haven’t had a good night’s sleep in years.
Why?
Advertisement
Because of you.
It’s not like you’re trying to rob your closest ally of beauty sleep. It just sort of happens. Once you find your groove in deep slumber and you’re fully relaxed, you could start snoring. Unfortunately, your partner pays a hefty price.
It could be affecting your relationship or lead to health problems for your partner. You may even find yourself being awoken by elbow jabs and kicks in the middle of the night.
Getting snoring under control could be the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season.
There are several safe lifestyle measures that may reduce the likelihood of snoring. If noise in the bedroom has become a contentious issue, here are a few things that may help.
Avoid Alcohol: Staying away from alcohol within three hours of bedtime can help cut down on snoring. Booze relaxes airway muscles that can increase the chances of snoring.
Watch Medication Intake: Muscle relaxers sold as sedatives or prescription anxiety medications can have a similar effect as alcohol. Avoid taking these at night to reduce the chance of snoring.
Lose Weight: Losing weight may be the most effective and long-lasting measure to cut down on snoring.
Sleep on Your Side or With an Elevated Head: Back sleepers may have a greater susceptibility to snoring because of tongue positioning. Your tongue may fall back to press against the roof of your airway when sleeping on your back, and shifting to the side is an easy fix.
Advertisement
Body pillows can help you stay on your side.
Tend to Allergies: Allergens may also cause snoring. If you suffer from a stuffy nose, try rinsing sinuses with saline. Also, be sure to regularly clean sheets and surfaces in your bedroom to remove dust mites.
If you’re sharing a bed, you have to think about more than just your sleep quality. Do your partner a favor and give them the gift of great sleep.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
