Does My Partner Have Sleep Apnea?

If your partner keeps you awake snoring at night, it may be more serious than you think.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the upper airway becomes blocked while you’re sleeping. The less common type, central sleep apnea, occurs when your brain can’t send signals for your body to breathe.

What are signs that your partner might have sleep apnea?

Many people who have sleep apnea aren’t aware that they have it. Sometimes it’s their partner who first notices their symptoms.
Your partner may have sleep apnea if he or she experiences or has any of the following:

• Frequent stoppages of breathing during sleep
• Loud chronic snoring that frequently interferes with their partner’s sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Waking up frequently at night to urinate
• Waking up with a dry mouth or headache
• Experiencing changes in mood or ability to concentrate and pay attention
• Having a decreased libido
• Thick and short, or long and thin neck size
• Obesity

Why can sleep apnea be dangerous?

Sleep apnea can be serious because of the body’s sleep deprivation and being deprived of oxygen. In addition, sleep apnea can raise his or her risk of developing the following chronic health issues:

• Asthma
• Atrial fibrillation
• Certain types of cancers
• Chronic kidney disease
• Cardiovascular disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Pregnancy complications

What are some tips for talking with your partner if you’re concerned they might have sleep apnea?

• Research

Observe your partner’s sleep behaviors and take notes so you can speak about specific things that occur.

• Express your concern

Be honest with your partner and explain why you’re concerned about his or her symptoms. Explain the many benefits of getting help.

• Gather evidence

If your partner is willing to have his or her sleep recorded, record their snoring or gasping.

• Check with your insurance coverage

Check with your carrier to learn how sleep apnea visits and treatments are covered.

• Encourage your partner to comply with treatment

If your partner is diagnosed with sleep apnea and is asked to try a type of treatment such as an oral appliance, encourage him or her to use it.

If you’ve noticed signs of sleep apnea in your partner, encourage him or her to make an appointment today for a consultation with Dental365Sleep. Dental365Sleep is New York’s sleep expert with nearly a dozen locations throughout New York City and Long Island to help treat snoring and sleep breathing disorders, including Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Our solutions include oral appliances that are customized to the individual by leading dentists for a comfortable fit and the best possible outcome. We also provide recommendations for additional therapies to help guide our patients to ensure maximum compliance and benefit. Fill out the form on this page to request an appointment or call 844-365-DENTAL to learn more.