More than annoying, snoring may signal health problem

Your mate’s snoring may be the reason you’re not getting enough sleep.

Snoring is not just annoying, though. It can signal a more serious problem like sleep apnea. People who have sleep apnea are at greater risk for developing high blood pressure, heart attacks or stroke. It can also cause you to be less productive or fall asleep at the worst times – like when you’re driving or operating machinery.

Has snoring forced you and your mate into separate bedrooms?  Have you found a product that really works?

A reporter may contact you for an upcoming article, or you can email: spoole@ajc.com.

20 comments Add your comment

Liz Walker

July 21st, 2009
5:13 pm

When I snore neither my husband nor myself sleep, I will snore gasp, which sometimes will continue after I wake my self snoring. Sometime I wake up feeling like I have not been asleep.

Old School

July 21st, 2009
8:25 pm

My husband snores like road grading equipment. Me? I purr. . . a bit.

Sherry

July 22nd, 2009
12:31 am

Liz sounds like you have sleep apnea. I have sleep apnea and gasp for air in my sleep. The doctor told me that breathing slows down or completely stops one minute. Sometimes, when I wake up, it fills as if you have the world’s worst hangover, even though you hadn’t a drop of alcohol. I recommend going to the doctor about it. I was given a CPAP machine(continous positive airway pressure, or something like that) and it made a world of difference. Unfortunately, my mask and parts of the machine have been messed up and I haven’t replaced them.

Sherry

July 22nd, 2009
12:33 am

Sorry Liz – I’m half asleep typing this – here’s the comment with the corrections.

Liz sounds like you have sleep apnea. I have sleep apnea and gasp for air in my sleep. The doctor told me that my breathing slows down or completely stops one minute. Sometimes, when I wake up, it feels as if I have the world’s worst hangover, even though I hadn’t a drop of alcohol. I recommend going to the doctor about it. I was given a CPAP machine(continous positive airway pressure, or something like that) and it made a world of difference. Unfortunately, my mask and parts of the machine have been messed up and I haven’t replaced them.

Sleepless in Atlanta

July 22nd, 2009
8:51 am

Most nights, I have to listen to my husband and dog snore. I guess I have to deal with it since they’re both old.

Long time fan

July 22nd, 2009
8:57 am

I used to snore, wake up tired every morning. My wife finally had enough and I went to an ENT. He took one look and determined that I had a deviated septum. After a 1 hour surgical repair and about a couple of weeks for the internal swelling to go down, I could see a marked improvement in my sleep and how I felt the next morning. Now my snoring is almost nonexistant. Only happens if I am extremely tired when I go to bed. Wife is happier now.

Shawon

July 22nd, 2009
9:26 am

Smoking and being overweight are the primary factors that cause the snoring/apnea problems. I used to have it….was diagnosed and given a CPAP…honestly, the inconvenience and discomfort of wearing the mask probably offset any benefits it provided. But after stopping smoking and losing nearly 100 lbs, I now sleep like a kitten. But there’s no money to be made in that solution, so the doctors will continue to try and convince you that you need space-age machinery to solve the problem. Just stop eating so much, stop smoking, and get into the gym and this will cure about 99% of what ails ya.

SHARON

July 22nd, 2009
9:26 am

My husband was studied for sleep disorders, the good news was he was the soundest sleeper they group had ever studied, the bad news, he just snores really loud!! I’ve learned to make it work, when he wakes me up, I journey else where, it’s best to do that than keep rolling him all night, thus neither of us sleep. lol

Biker Garrie

July 22nd, 2009
10:02 am

My wife was alwayscomplaining about my snoring. I’ll admit that sometimes my snoring would wake me up (That’s pretty bad). I finally went and had a sleep study. In the six hours that I was asleep under medication, I stopped breathing 189 times, one time for as long 26 seconds. I used to wake up and go to the bathroom 2 to 3 times a night. The doctor prescribed a CPAP machine. Now, I never wake up to go the bathroom and I don’t snore anymore. I also feel more rested when I wake up in the mornings. I used to sleep in on the weekends but now hardly ever sleep pass 7:00. By the way, my gets her rest now.

JF McNamara

July 22nd, 2009
10:14 am

I used to snore and got diagnosed with sleep apnea. Getting the CPAP was one of the best things to happen to me. I was always tired prior to that, and it has improved my life drammatically. Yes, the mask is uncomfortable, but I feel a lot better now. I would always quit working out before because I would be too tired. I lost 40 pounds in the months after that because I wasn’t too tired to work out and I had energy to do more active things.

If you snore, are always tired, and/or have headaches after waking up, don’t wait for years like I did to go to the Doctor.

dean

July 22nd, 2009
10:33 am

I love my CPAP! No mask. Just a soft nosebud kind of thing. I don’t have to sleep just on my back. I can also sleep on my sides. I’ve had the machine for 2 plus years. The first morning after the first night it was, “Holy Toledo! THIS is how I’ve supposed to be feeling THE LAST 20 YEARS?!” My wife was practically in tears of joyful relief. It ain’t just the snoring either. If your mate says, “You quit breathing and it scares me.”—-Get to the doctor ASAP. A little inconvenience is better than DEAD. PS. My sleep doc told me that 90percent of the people who Think they have sleep apnea DO NOT.

Seperate ZZZZZ's in Roswell

July 22nd, 2009
10:44 am

My wife kicked me out of the bedroom shortly after we were married three years ago. She has called my cellphone in the middle of the night and left my snoring on my voicemail so I can “enjoy” it the following morning. She sleeps great and I suppose I do too. Wish there was a way to stop snoring w/o wearing a mask. Man I bet that’s sexy!!

annieT

July 22nd, 2009
12:39 pm

Hey ZZZZZs. My husband of 5 years wears a cpap–he sleeps and I do too. I find that much sexier than his snoring and neither of us sleeping. The cpap comes off at a moment’s notice when we feel frisky. What’s sexy about separate bedrooms? We cuddle anytime even with the cpap. Meanhwile, I wear ear plugs while I sleep so the machine’s noise doesn’t disturb me.

RJ

July 22nd, 2009
1:04 pm

Got married February 2007. My wife endured almost two years of my snoring– and I endured the sharp jabs of her elbow.

Tried sleeping on my side, using different pillows, quitting smoking, cutting back on drinking. Wasn’t overweight so losing weight wasn’t an option. Nothing worked consistently.

Then I went to a pulmonary specialist, took a sleep study, and found I have sleep apnea. He recommended a CPAP machine, which I started using the beginning of this year.

As other CPAP users have commented, both my wife and I now sleep well, I wake up refreshed, and have more energy for the day. Fortunately I am able to use the nose pillow, so it’s not as cumbersome as the full mask.

I fought with my wife about going to the doctor initially. Told her my snoring was genetic. I’m glad she was persistent!

Joyce Matthews

July 22nd, 2009
2:23 pm

My husband had sleep apnea, was overweight and had high blood pressure. Sometimes he would stop breathing so long I would have to shake him to make sure he was still alive. Nothing was done to correct his health problems. He’s been dead for 13 years now at the age of 51.
Comments by “Shawon” are right on the money. Sleep apena is no joke.

Jeremy

July 22nd, 2009
2:57 pm

My wife and I have been in seperate bedrooms for about 2 years now due to my snoring. I’m only 30 so I don’t know what the issue could be as I’ve always been big from weight-lifting. I guess it’s about time to figure it out.

jimmy

July 22nd, 2009
5:03 pm

12years ago i had sleep apena surgery.it literally saved my life,due weight loss and the treatment i recieved for all the conditions caused by the snoring

Sleeping now

July 22nd, 2009
9:46 pm

My husband kept me awake for 20 years and now he wears a C Pap at night…he sleeps, I sleep.
He is not overweight and has had the sleep apnea surgery and it didn’t work for him…there are anatomical reasons for sleep apnea, such as an oversized tongue for instance.

Sleeping now

July 22nd, 2009
9:54 pm

People, mostly men, with short thick necks tend to have sleep apnea…it is sometimes anatomical and has nothing to do with weight or lack of exercise…he plays tennis almost everyday.

Best Treatment for Snoring

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7:20 am

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