You probably have more than a few ideas of Valentine’s Day gifts you can give your partner – a box of chocolates, a romantic dinner, maybe even some wine. But if you want a gift that will help your relationship far into the future, then you might consider a lifestyle change in the form of no more snoring and sleep apnea. Loud, restless nights can lead to constant exhaustion and frustration, and that could seriously harm your relationship in the future. In this post, your sleep apnea dentist will detail a few important facts about sleep apnea and snoring that you should be aware of during Valentine’s Day.
Fact 1: Common Valentine’s Day Activities Can Contribute to Snoring
If you or your partner already snore, you might find that the noise is significantly worse the night of Valentine’s Day. Common Valentine staples like chocolate and wine can potentially impact your breathing at night. The sugar in chocolate can cause inflammation and stimulate mucus production, leading to restricted nasal passages that make snoring louder and more frequent. The alcohol in wine can relax your throat and mouth muscles; if your snoring is due to sleep apnea, this can make the problem even more severe.
Fact 2: Snoring and Sleep Apnea Can Potentially Ruin Relationships
When one partner is snoring, the other one may have trouble getting any rest at all; they might even be forced to sleep in another room. The lack of rest combined with irritation can lead to relationship troubles in the long run, which is one reason why snoring needs to be addressed as soon as possible, especially if it’s linked to sleep apnea.
Fact 3: Sleep Apnea Can Be Extremely Harmful Over Time
Sleep apnea doesn’t just leave you feeling tired; it also affects your overall health. This is due to a combination of a lack of quality sleep and frequent drops in blood oxygen levels. People with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer from deadly heart attacks, strokes, and other potentially life-threatening issues. In other words, ignoring sleep apnea now could hurt more than just your relationship.
Fact 4: Sleep Apnea and Snoring Can Be Treated
There are multiple ways to treat sleep apnea and the snoring associated with it. A common form of sleep apnea treatment in Denver is oral appliance therapy, where you simply wear a special oral appliance to keep the airway open and unobstructed during the night. You can also improve sleep apnea symptoms by losing weight, changing sleeping positions, and avoiding alcohol.
If you already suspect that you or your partner needs snoring treatment in Denver, don’t let the disorder get in the way of what should be a special day for the two of you. Reach out to a sleep expert now to start looking for sleep solutions!
About the Author
Dr. Glenn Thompson knows firsthand what it’s like to live with sleep apnea and how it can end up having a negative effect on every aspect of your life. He has taken hundreds of hours in continuing education focused on diagnosing and treating sleep apnea so that he can help his patients enjoy a good night’s sleep again. If you’d like to schedule a Valentine’s sleep consultation at Downtown Denver Sleep Solutions, visit his website or call (720) 903-1649.