I am a reasonably gentle soul, not one prone to violence. Listening to someone snoring, though, causes me to ponder actions of a criminal nature.
Have you ever heard the peal of someone snoring? If you haven’t, consider yourself one of the fortunate few. Almost everyone snores now and then, but for some, the condition is chronic.
A domestic partnership is made up of two people prepared to swear that it is the other that snores. It is something that many couples argue about. Snoring is listed as a leading cause for divorce after infidelity and financial issues.
What is Snoring?
Snoring is the sound that occurs when air flows past relaxed tissues in the throat, causing the tissue to vibrate as you breathe. Some people snore with no evidence of disruption to their lives, while others can suffer from sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea stop breathing for short periods then the act of gasping for air wakes them up. They are left feeling exhausted the next day. Snoring increases with age as we lose muscle tone in our upper airway.
Factors That Contribute To Snoring
- medications
- being male
- being overtired
- obesity, although people of any weight can snore
- allergies
- smoking
- colds
- dry winter air
Discussions Between Partners
- “You should go to sleep first, then you wouldn’t hear me.”
- “I wasn’t snoring.”
- “I couldn’t have been snoring; I wasn’t even sleeping.”
- "You're snoring"!
Couples cursed by snoring can extend a variety of indignities to each other through the years. Sleep is something people hold dear, and having their peaceful bliss interrupted brings out the worst in them. They loudly admonish, shake and jab each other. The Hubs shows me no mercy, a barked command and a sharp jab in the ribs from his bony elbow does the trick. I politely reply to this intrusion by saying, “thank you so much, dear, for waking me up to point that out”.
Somewhere along the way, the word snort evolved into the word snore. Where did snoring originate, with the caveman (cave people?). It must have been difficult to hide from predators when the sound of snoring reverberated from your cave. On the other hand, it could have been an advantage scaring vermin away. What did the cavewoman do when she was tired of listening to her man snore? Well, a club was probably within arms reach...
Snoring is a by-product of human evolution. Cavemen probably didn't snore much. They were physically active, less obese, out in the fresh air, didn’t consume copious amounts of alcohol, take sleep medications or snarf down processed food. Today these factors have a significant impact on our sleep.
Then again, maybe they did snore. This discussion makes me think of the episode of the Flintstones where Fred is snoring. The trees outside are being sucked back-and-forth, the curtains are flapping out the open window, the cat leaves and goes to an animal shelter, and Dino buries his head in the ground.
Many people live in environments where there is noise at night, so why is the sound of someone snoring so annoying? Their proximity to you is the first reason, and at night you have less to distract your mind. It is like listening to a clock ticking when you’re trying to sleep, and it seems to get louder and louder the more you try to ignore it. The sound of snoring isn’t a smooth white noise sound, as it changes, stops and restarts throughout the night. There is no switch to change the sound to ocean waves or nature sounds.
A good night's sleep is essential for health and happiness. It isn’t something we should take for granted. Snoring is common and can be a serious health issue. Individuals and their partners can be woken up repeatedly, and sleep deprivation can result.
Issues Resulting from Sleep Deprivation
- daytime sleepiness
- headaches
- memory loss
- depression
- irritability
- poor concentration
The Acoustics of Snoring
The noise level of snoring can equate to a vacuum running in your bedroom. Every snorer has a unique sound. It can be anywhere from a hoarse or harsh rumble, snorting, gasping, a high pitched wheezing sound to little puffs of air. Accurately describing what snoring sounds like isn't that easy; try it.
Some common descriptors for snoring include:
- like a pig or a dog (yes, pigs and dogs do, in fact, snore)
- sawing logs
- a freight train
- raise the roof
- shake the rafters
Possible Treatment Options
- exercise
- surgery
- weight loss
- CPAP machine
- chiropractic
- reflexology
- massage therapy
- acupuncture
- hypnosis
- homeopath
- naturopath
Anti-snoring Products
As with many medical conditions, treatment is big business. While doing research for this story, I found a multitude of advice and products lauded as the next best thing to stop snoring, including:
- t-shirts with a tennis ball sewn into a pocket on the upper back of the shirt to stop you from sleeping on your back
- over the counter pills
- chin straps
- orthodontic devices
- nasal strips
- throat sprays
- specially designed pillows
- anti-snore wrist bands
- finger rings
- nasal dilators
Things a Partner of a Snorer Can Try to Avoid Jail Time
- wear earplugs
- encourage them to seek medical treatment
- evacuated to another room
- if your partner has a sleep apnea machine, give yourself time to adjust to the machine’s sound, refrain from pinching their air hose
How to Minimize Snoring
- accept the fact and seek medical advice - a sleep study can provide an accurate diagnosis
- avoid alcohol and large meals late in the evening
- switch your sleeping position, so you don’t sleep on your back
- avoid sugary foods and drinks before bedtime
- drink an adequate amount of water throughout the day
- manage your weight
Questions
- If both partners snore, do they wake each other up? Who is responsible for waking who up?
- In the morning, one partner tersely informs the other that they were snoring. What exactly do they expect them to do about it, they can’t take it back? What is the appropriate response to receiving such information?
- Although statistics show that men snore more than women, there is a stigma around females who snore. Women get embarrassed and defensive when accused of this heinous act. Why is snoring acceptable in the male domain but not for females? Is unladylike still a thing?
- If you can hear yourself snoring, are you really asleep?
- Do you snore when you dream?
- I read that snoring is socially disruptive…does that mean that if you’re snoring in a crowd, it’s disruptive to everybody?
- Why is the handsome rogue or the sultry damsel in romance novels and movies never accused of snoring?
- I wonder if there’s ever been a criminal case where a crime was committed against someone because they snored. I am wondering how the perpetrator made out? (and no, I am not asking for a friend)
We are fortunate in this country to have medical professionals who can help manage sleep-related issues. There are many options on the market, and some may benefit you; it is a trial and error process. New research and treatments are continually being developed, so hang in there.
“Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone.”
Anthony Burgess
English Novelist
Please share my story.
Thank you, Norma
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