Confessions of a Snore Partner
I'm writing this from bed.
Sometimes, as I lay in the dark listening to ever-changing rhythms of my husband's snoring, I'll be struck with something new to share.
You see, his snoring keeping me awake is three-fold:
1. It's just plain loud. The rhythmic ruckus coming from his side of the bed has been enough to drive me to the couch.
2. I worry what it's doing to his body, what type of irreversible damage each inhale causes, and what kind of life he could be living if he could breathe better.
3. I get curious about the mechanics of it all.
Yes, his loud, rattling gasps for air are enough to keep me up and wake me from my own slumber. Insert all the typical metaphors … like a freight train, like a jackhammer, like a chainsaw. Loud enough to rattle the windows.
You get the idea.
And then there is just wondering about what's really going on in there. Where is it coming from? Why is it so loud?
I did some research. It's actually quite simple. It's just the vibration of the relaxed tissues in your airway. The louder it is, the more obstructed the airway is - the harder your body has to force the air flow.
Yep. Makes sense.
But what I didn't know was just how dangerous frequent snoring can be. It doesn't just cause a sore throat and a tired, cranky partner.
Snoring or, more seriously, sleep apnea can cause long-lasting damage on your internal organs and circulatory system. It can lead to heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, a weakened immune system, abnormal cholesterol, and - yep - sexual dysfunction too.
I want a healthy and restful night's sleep, but I want a healthy and well-rested husband even more. The thought of him suffering with a life-altering illness, or worse, losing him too soon...
Yes, this is all enough to keep a wife up at night.
Ah, yes, sleeping soundly … in a peacefully quiet bedroom, with peace of mind that he is breathing freely. What's not to love about that?