How Sleep Apnea Damages Relationships

In modern society, sleep issues are often regarded as a common yet bothersome aspect of daily life. However, chronic sleep deprivation goes far beyond a mere inconvenience! It can negatively impact all facets of your well-being, including your health, overall quality of life, and interpersonal relationships. This blog post examines how sleep apnea may adversely affect the maintenance of healthy relationships with intimate partners, friends, and even coworkers.

Sleep Apnea and Intimate Relationships

Loud, frequent snoring is one of the most prevalent symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The noise you make while asleep may make it difficult for your partner to get enough rest. This can cause them to be tired and irritable during their waking hours. As a sleep apnea sufferer, you may also find that you are frequently in a bad mood. Without a doubt, this can put a strain on your relationship!

To escape from your snoring, your partner may sleep in another room, but that can also negatively affect your relationship.

Of course, snoring is not the only way that OSA may affect your relationship with your partner. It could also make it difficult for you to enjoy physical intimacy. There is a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men with OSA. Women with OSA are likely to experience decreased libido.

Sleep Apnea and Friendships

The effects of OSA on relationships can extend outside your home; it can impact your friendships as well! Your condition may make you constantly exhausted, so you are more likely to turn down invitations to socialize.

OSA is also associated with symptoms of emotional disorders, including anxiety and depression. You may withdraw from your friends, causing your relationships to weaken.

Sleep Apnea and Professional Relationships

The frequent exhaustion that OSA causes can make it difficult for you to concentrate. As a result, you may not perform optimally at work. Your coworkers may start to express concerns about your ability to support your team’s success and productivity.

What You Can Do

Healthy relationships are a crucial part of overall wellness! Therefore, you should do all you can to address sleep problems so you can focus on enjoying happy and productive interactions with other humans.

If you suspect you have OSA, talk to your care provider about getting tested for it. Once you receive a diagnosis, you can learn about your treatment options. Many people find that a custom oral appliance from a dentist is a convenient and effective way to minimize their sleep apnea symptoms.

OSA can damage your relationships! The good news is that treatment can help you start sleeping better and support a healthy social life.

Meet the Practice

Drs. Robert and Dan Dernick are the sleep dentists in our practice. They specialize in providing oral appliance therapy to address OSA. Our team is even able to provide convenient at-home sleep testing! If you suspect you have sleep apnea or would like to learn more about your treatment options, we would be pleased to speak with you. Contact our office in The Woodlands at 281-783-3419.