Sleep deprivation due
to a partners snoring can make it a challenge to be cheerful in the
morning and can have a negative effect on the rest of your day,
too. But the stress suffered by the snorer's bed partner
isn't the only stress with which we should concern ourselves. It
turns out that snoring, in addition to being a social and medical
challenge, can have negative effects on the sexual functioning of
the snorer.
Studies have found
that a significant number of heavy snorers have reduced sexual
drive. Quite a few of snoring men also experience erection
dysfunction. Heavy snoring is a well-recognized symptom of the
serious syndrome known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While
asleep, people who have OSA momentarily stop breathing as often as
hundreds of times a night. This occurs because their throat air
passage gets blocked by their tongue, tonsils or soft palate and the
uvula, the top part of the back of the throat. Because OSA
repeatedly interrupts sleep during the night, it can have
significant effects on the snorer's body. Generally an
individual suffering from sleep apnea, may not be getting the full
night's sleep he needs, either.
Sleep apnea can
inhibit sexuality because of oxygen deprivation, fatigue and
depression. It can also lead to other complications, including high
blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack or stroke, and
excessive daytime sleepiness. All of these conditions can suppress a
healthy interest in sex. Fortunately the snoring problem could be
corrected in most instances by surgery according to Dr. Mansoor
Madani, a pioneering surgeon in treating this disorder. These
treatments may include laser surgery or use of radiofrequency to
treat snoring and nasal congestion.
If the individual
doesnt have OSA, there are still a few things that can be done to
decrease their snoring and give you a better chance of waking up
together in the same bed.
-
Weight
Loss: Losing about 10 to 25 percent of total body weight often
reduces the symptoms and intensity of snoring.
-
Decrease
Alcohol: Don't drink alcohol late at night. Drinking
before bedtime increases snoring in those who already do snore,
and can cause it in those who normally don't.
-
Low Pillow:
Sleeping on a low pillow helps keep your neck straight and your
air passage open.
-
Avoid sleeping pills
or narcotics before bed: These depress the central
nervous system and increase snoring. Some cold remedies can have
similar effects.
-
Stop
Smoking: Smoking increases snoring because it irritates
and enlarges mucous membranes in the throat and reduces the
overall oxygen uptake ability in the lungs. It also may inhibit
the production of testosterone, the hormone that causes sexual
drive, and cause blockages of the penile arteries.
-
Don't sleep on your
back. How? Some snorers have sewn tennis
balls inside a pocket on the back of their pajama tops.
This keeps them from comfortably rolling onto their backs and
assuming the prime snoring position.
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