Contrary to popular belief, snoring isn’t an indication of a good and deep sleep.

Snoring actually prevents you from getting proper rest, presents the risk of sleep apnea – where you stop breathing for a few seconds as you sleep – and may even signal underlying serious health problems.

However, what’s worse than snoring while sleeping is trying to sleep beside or in close proximity to a person who snores.

Short of kicking them awake each time they do, here are six ways to get better sleep with a snorer next to you.

Use earplugs

An effective way to deal with the persistent racket of someone who snores is to block it out as much as is humanly possible. Consider using earplugs to eliminate as much of the sound as you can so your sleep is minimally disrupted.

Simple foam earplugs will suffice, although there are also more targeted options that work specifically on snoring noises.

Get better pillows

Good pillows not only help with your comfort, but can also improve and help mitigate the snoring of your partner. Firm pillows that provide proper head support and lift will also help open up the snorer’s airways and thus, reduce snoring.

Some individuals also snore because of inflamed nasal passages due to allergies, so hypoallergenic and anti-dust pillows can help reduce irritation, resulting in less occurrences of snoring.

Create a more conducive bedroom for sleeping  

Consider improving the space, ventilation, layout and lighting of your bedroom to create the best environment for you to relax and fall asleep.

A comfortable bedroom environment can work wonders in improving sleep quality and hopefully reducing the chances of your partner snoring.

Consider switching to a bigger and more comfortable bed, change the light fixtures and think about cooler colour schemes that will work for both you and your partner or roommate.

Try blackout curtains

For an improved sense of privacy and comfort, get blackout curtains. These curtains block out external light and noise really well and help create a cosier sleeping environment.

Plus, they come in various trendy designs to add some personality to your bedroom.

Roll over

Certain sleeping positions can actually worsen snoring. The biggest culprit in this sense, is sleeping on one’s back – a position that tends to block the airways and create resistance that results in snoring.

To reduce or even stop the snoring, try sleeping in a better position. This usually means sleeping on the stomach or sides.

If it’s your partner or roommate that snores, you can opt to roll them onto their sides when they are sleeping on their backs or get them to retrain their sleeping positions to avoid excessive snoring.

Try nasal strips

Nasal strips can be effective for reducing snoring caused by blocked airways. They are non-invasive and are an easy way to reduce snoring.

However, they’re not effective against snoring caused by sleep apnea or other underlying health issues.

This article first appeared in kaodim.com

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