You’ve tried everything from gentle nudges to specialty pillows to get your loved one to stop snoring, but nothing seems to stop the chainsaw noises coming from their nose each night. Does this sound familiar? If so, your loved one may be suffering from a form of disoriented breathing called sleep apnea. Everyone is susceptible to occasional snoring, but patients with sleep apnea will snore frequently because they are consistently not breathing properly while they sleep. Sleep apnea can cause a plethora of other serious health conditions — even heart disease — so talking to your partner about a possible diagnosis and treatment is crucial. Follow these tips for a successful conversation. Be Prepared Gather information on the diagnosis and treatment options before broaching the subject with your partner. Once you begin to express your concerns, make sure they understand that you are only worried about their health. Explain how you believe testing and treatment for sleep apnea could help both of you sleep better at night. Prove It Some people need to see it to believe it. Rather than sneaking around with an audio or video recorder, ask your partner if they would like to experience what you’re witnessing each night, and, with their approval, record their sleeping patterns. (Tip: SnoreLab is a great free app for something like this!) Often, people will be shocked to see they stop breathing many times during their sleep and will want to do something about it. Be prepared to support them as they process this new information. J oin Them Suggest joining your partner as they make changes to mitigate their sleep apnea. Offer to help them parse out which treatment plan is best for them, or go shopping for their new CPAP or oral appliance together. Cook a healthy meal together and suggest nightly walks, as healthy diet and exercise can improve sleep apnea. Your partner may be hesitant to change their lifestyle at first, but if you’re willing to join them, they may become more open to change. Having this conversation with your loved one can be difficult, but it could also be life-saving. Learn more about sleep apnea and treatment options from Highland Springs Dental Care’s experts. Call 951.769.1616 for more information. Sudoku
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