Being in a relationship is being with each other through thick and thin – even when they keep you up at night with their snoring! However, if your partner’s snoring is preventing you from catching ZZZs, there are ways to attack their snoring so you can both sleep with complete and total ease.
Pillow Barricades
It’s incredible what a few pillows can do to prevent your significant other from snoring up a storm! Side-sleeping is the ideal sleeping position for snorers, as it keeps the respiratory tract open and improves air intake. Instead of keeping a hand on your partner’s back all night to keep them from turning over, use a firm pillow or two. If your partner can’t sleep this way, the next best thing is to use a specially designed wedge pillow to support the head and neck.
Our Pick: Brentwood Home Zuma Foam Wedge Pillow ($54, shop here)
Medications
Anti-allergy medications can prevent swelling or obstruction of the airways, keeping snores at bay. Taking an allergy medication 30 minutes before bed could help, but avoid anything with a sedative, like Benadryl, which can exacerbate snoring rather than prevent it. If you suspect serious allergies are at the root of the snoring, it wouldn’t hurt to suggest your partner visit an allergy specialist who can prescribe stronger medicines.
Snoring Aids
Outside of medication, there are many snoring aids that your partner can try that will deplete or cease snoring altogether, including:
- Nasal strips like Breathe Right ($17.32 for 30-pack, shop here) open up the nasal passages.
- Chin-Up Strips ($21 for 30-pack, shop here) work similarly to Breathe Right strips, except they support the mandible rather than the nasal passage.
- Smart Nora ($399, shop here) is a snoring solution that includes a small device that detects snoring, a padded insert that is placed under the pillow, and a silent pump that inflates and deflates the padded insert. As the insert gently rises and falls, it stimulates the throat muscles and allows for more natural breathing.
- Snore and mouth guards are molded to the upper teeth and gently prop the jaw forward to keep the airways from restricting.
If All Else Fails…
If none of the above works for your partner, there are ways that you can cover up the sound of their snoring. For example, playing ambient or white noise can help. Though playing it out loud is an option, you can also listen through sleep-friendly headphones. Soft earplugs are also a great compromise: Find ones that are low-pressure, super-flexible, and sound-tight…silicone ear plugs are a great choice.
Have you or your partner successfully stopped snoring? Share your experience with us in the comments below!