Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Is Your Snoring Grounds for Divorce?
Did you know that snoring is a leading cause of divorce? We already know that disrupted sleep can be a significant cause for depression and stress, so it should come as no surprise that those who struggle with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and have severe snoring issues often also end up having relationship issues.
Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Good for Your Marriage
In addition to eliminating the snoring that keeps your spouse up at night, getting a good night’s sleep can be good for your relationship in many other ways as well. First, better sleep reduces stress and anxiety, so you’re less likely to be short-tempered. Second, a good night’s sleep can be good for your libido, thereby improving your ability to be intimate.
Additional Health Benefits of Treating OSA
Treating OSA can reduce your risk for depression, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. People with untreated obstructive sleep apnea are also at higher risk of dying. So in addition to improving your marriage and relationship, treating your sleep apnea can save your life.
Why People Hesitate to Get Treatment
Many people hesitate to get treatment for obstructive sleep apnea because they believe the only effective treatment available is a CPAP mask. Whether the idea of wearing a CPAP bothers you or you’re concerned it will disrupt your sleep and relationship in other ways, it is not the only alternative.
CPAP Is Not the Only Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Did you know that there is a treatment for sleep apnea that has a 91% effective use rate after a year? If you can’t – or won’t – wear a CPAP mask, or if you have been using a CPAP but end up taking it off part way through the night because you cannot tolerate it, oral appliance therapy (OAT) is a proven alternative CPAP treatment option for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, and those patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are unable to tolerate CPAP machines.
If you’ve been avoiding seeking treatment for your obstructive sleep apnea because you are worried your doctor will prescribe a CPAP machine for treatment, please don’t avoid getting help. There are many other options on the market to help treat obstructive sleep apnea that don’t require the use of a mask.
If you have been struggling with sleep apnea and are looking for ways to manage it, contact eos dental sleep to set up an appointment. We can help determine the cause of your sleep issues, recommend, and provide our best treatment options.