A partner who snores and spends nights restless is not good for their health, nor for that of your relationship. And it’s science that says it! Another good argument not to ignore this problem.
Sleep apnea affects 3 million French people. This common illness affects the health of patients, exposing them to fatigue and in the long term to cardiovascular problems. But sleep apnea can also damage the couple, by harming the quality of nights as a couple.
When positive pressure therapy is adopted, the couple breathes better too
This consequence for the couple is not inevitable, however. In a new study led by a team of researchers at the University of Utah and presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting, scientists demonstrated that a positive airway pressure (or PAP) therapy device can significantly improve the marital life of patients. For information, PAP devices keep the patient's airways open using the pressure of air delivered through a nasal mask. It is air pressure, not air movement, that prevents apneas from occurring.
The researchers thus collected data over three months from 36 couples, one of whose partners suffering from apnea had recently received PAP treatment. And the results are convincing:
- Greater patient adherence to PAP (defined as greater than 4 hours of use per night) was associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction and lower levels of relationship conflict between patients and partners;
- Higher patient sleep efficiency was also associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction reported by the patient and their partner.
In other words, the more patients' sleep improves, the more fulfilled the couple!
Can apnea treatment save marriages?
For researchers, there is no doubt that people with sleep apnea must seek treatment. For their own health first, but also to preserve their other half.
“Recognizing that sleep and sleep disorders impact the quality of a relationship could be a powerful motivator for people with sleep apnea to adhere to treatment,” assures Wendy Troxel, lead author of the study in a press release.
“At a time when we see couples practicing 'sleep divorce' (or sleeping separately, editor’s note)and where approximately 50% of marriages end in divorce, it is imperative to recognize that healthy sleep can contribute to healthy relationships.” concludes the author.