The question
My girlfriend is a chronic snorer - it wakes us both up, and we’ve tried medications and the strips. Will it stop or get better if she loses weight? I want to suggest that but don’t want to come off as a jerk
The answer
Snoring is often brought up as a concern between couples due to disruption of sleep which can cause frustration and can put strain on the relationship. In most cases, this concern is not brought up by the individual who snores, but by their partner.
Snoring can reduce sleep quality leading to poor health outcomes both physically and emotionally, and can be a clue to an underlying condition that warrants medical attention.
Snoring is produced when air travels through an obstructed airway while you are sleeping. This obstruction can occur due to narrowing of the passages due to inflammation from allergies, upper respiratory tract infections or blockage from enlarged tonsils or a deviated nasal septum. Alcohol or sedative medications can also contribute to snoring by relaxing the muscles in the airways which makes them floppy and creates turbulent and loud airflow through the passages. Weight gain is also a common cause of snoring as the increased weight on the neck can cause obstruction by narrowing the airways.
If you have noticed that your partner is choking or gasping for air at night, this may indicate a more serious condition known as sleep apnea. This is characterized by periods of snoring followed by silence when breathing may stop completely. This is mostly due to obstruction of the airways which leads to lowered oxygen and increased carbon dioxide that triggers waking in a forceful manner with a loud gasp or choking sound.
If this is occurring, a sleep study should be done by your family doctor to assess for sleep apnea. This is a potentially serious condition that can lead to poor sleep quality, daytime fatigue and can eventually lead to respiratory or cardiovacular disease such as high blood pressure.
Lifestyle changes such as avoiding alcohol close to bedtime, sleeping on your side or losing weight can all help to reduce snoring.
Given that this is affecting both of your sleep, suggesting your girlfriend see a doctor may be useful to have further discussion around the topic. This way, the sensitive topic of weight can be addressed by your doctor if this is the underlying cause of the snoring - and a good opportunity for your doctor to rule out other potentially reversible causes. Your doctor can make suggestions that may help to improve both your girlfriend’s sleep and your own to keep the peace in your relationship.
Send family doctor Sheila Wijayasinghe your questions at doctor@globeandmail.com. She will answer select questions, which could appear in The Globe and Mail and/or on The Globe and Mail web site. Your name will not be published if your question is chosen.
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