A new study reported in the journal Sleep and Breathing shows that sharing a bed with a loud snorer can cause depression.  Treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) responsible for the nocturnal noise allows your partner to feel better as well.

The study involved 36  couples wherein one partner suffered from mild to moderate sleep apnea.  Each patient with OSA was given a sleep study and their partners were screened for depression and daytime sleepiness.

Researchers treated the OSA patients using a surgical technique.  The patients and their spouses were then given the same tests when they returned a couple of months after the surgery.  The patients testing showed a reduced number of stoppages of breathing during sleep.  The spouses also showed lower scores on their depression assessments.

The study shows that reducing the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea can make your partner less depressed.  While surgical intervention was used in this study it is normally considered an extreme treatment option.  There are highly effective, non-invasive treatments available for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

The “gold standard” of sleep apnea treatment is the CPAP machine.  However, the majority of patients abandon using the CPAP device over time.

Oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea involves a custom fabricated oral device that gently moves the mandible into a position that allows the airway to remain open during sleep.  Recent studies have proven that patient compliance with oral devices is high over the long term – meaning that most patients find the oral appliance easy and comfortable to use.

Please contact your Columbus, Ohio dental sleep medicine office at 614-476-6696 to discuss your options for treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.  You will be helping yourself and helping your partner to a better night’s sleep.