Help! My Husband is Snoring and Won’t Get Help! What Can I Do?

This is a tough one! Over the past decade and a half, I have come across so many individuals, both men and women that have complained about his or her sleep partner’s snoring.  In many cases, the snoring individual is reluctant to getting help, quite frankly, because the snoring is really not bothering that person. When the snorer realizes the impact it has on family and finances, he or she is more likely to take action.

I wish I had the magic answer to this one.  I can tell you what my team and I have heard over the years that helped spur the snorer to seek help.

• Couples have moved into separate bedrooms and are tired of it.
• Refusing to travel together and share rooms, which often leads to higher expenses
• Pleading from other family members that they are worried about their health or, in some circumstances, death during the breathing struggles.
• Suffering spouses make the appointment for their partner and plead with them to go together for the appointment.
• Increased insistence from the person’s physician or health care provider.
• Embarrassing your partner in public at events.
• Giving the snorer some literature on the potential dangers associated with snoring. (Ask us if you need some.)
• Refusal of sex.
• Threatening to terminate the relationship.

We don’t recommend all of these choices, as some may not be helpful for the snorer. The key is for the person to realize the impact snoring has on their daily life and happiness.

If all else fails, consider getting the snoring individual to listen in the car or elsewhere to our recorded powerful podcast called Treating Snoring: A Life and Death Decision with myself and Dr. Steve Park.  You can access it here at http://www.tiredofsnoring.com/2012/01/1048/