Is your partner’s snoring and sleep apnea causing a little bit of trouble in paradise? When their house-shaking are causing the both of you to wake up feeling grumpy and sleep-deprived, it’s time to call in the professionals. A sleep study can help your partner’s doctor figure out exactly what’s causing their sleep condition in order to find the best solution for his or her needs. Now, convincing them to participate in a sleep study? Sometimes that’s easier said than done. We’ll give you a few tips to help you persuade that special someone in your life to take back their sleep—so you can both rest easy.
Record Their Snoring
If you live with a snorer, chances are you’ve probably had the classic “denial” fight. It goes a little something like this: “Honey, your snoring kept me up all night.” “What are you talking about? I don’t snore. You must be imagining it.” “I didn’t imagine it! You are a chronic snorer.” Honestly, a big reason many people don’t want to go to a sleep study is that they think they don’t need it. Half the battle is convincing them that they have an issue in the first place! Next time your partner starts his or her nighttime chorus, bust out your phone and record all the evidence you need to prove to your loved one that he or she has a snoring habit.
Lay down the Facts
Now that you have your video evidence, the cold hard facts might seal the deal—convincing your partner to book an appointment with his or her snore specialist. Snoring is a common sleep disrupter (at least for the one subjected to the symphony of sawing), and it can go hand-in-hand with sleep apnea. In fact, most people with sleep apnea also struggle with snoring. Approximately 59% of people share a bed with someone who snores. About 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep.
Sleep apnea is so much more than an annoyance that keeps you from your beauty rest. Sleep apnea can pose some serious health risks. In addition to putting the person at risk for developing obesity, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s, sleep apnea can lead to chronic sleep deprivation. This can hinder the person’s ability to focus, cause periods of microsleep (brief lapses in consciousness), and can make it difficult to safely perform daily tasks, like driving a car. Drowsy driving is extremely dangerous and it can be a side effect of sleep apnea.
Once your loved one is aware of just how serious snoring and sleep apnea can be, it should be easier to help them see the value in attending a sleep study and finding a much-needed solution for their sleep conditions.
Teach Them What to Expect at the Study
Another reason someone might be hesitant to attend a sleep study is simply fear of the unknown. If they’ve never attended a study, they probably don’t know what to expect which can understandably be a little unnerving. We’ve written a blog post with some details about what to expect during the sleep study process.
Your partner should schedule a consultation with Dr. Pasha and his team to assess his or her situation and determine whether or not a sleep study is the best next step. If it is, your significant other will be able sit down with Dr. Pasha ahead of time and ask any questions he or she may have. Dr. Pasha and his staff will be able to put your partner’s mind at ease and help them feel more comfortable with their upcoming study.
Remind Them How Much You Care about Them
When it all comes down to it, make sure your partner knows how much you care about them. It can be easy to come at the situation with a “your snoring is driving me crazy!” attitude, but this will likely just invite your loved one to throw up his or her defenses. Sure, the loud nightly rattling might be annoying, but at the end of the day, you just care about your partner and want them to be happy and healthy. To make them feel really cared for, try making their favorite dessert or surprising them with tickets to see their favorite band. (If you ask us, that should definitely help your persuasive powers.)
Your partner’s snoring and sleep apnea really are a problem—and not just because the obnoxious sounds can keep the whole house up all night. Encouraging your partner or loved one to participate in a sleep study in order to diagnose the proper sleep disorder and treat them (or at the very least, to meet with a specialist like Dr. Pasha who is an expert in sleep conditions) can help him or her take the next step toward a healthier lifestyle. And if you get better sleep out of it, too? Well, that’s just a win-win.
Struggling with sleep apnea, snoring, or another sleep condition? We’ve got plenty of options for you. Take back your sleep (so you and your partner can both enjoy your beauty rest). Schedule a sleep study with Dr. Pasha and his team. Follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for more updates!
