How to Talk Your Spouse Into Being Tested for Sleep Apnea

September 14, 2018

It’s a typical night in bed, which means you’re currently staring up at the ceiling as your partner next to you snores like they’re getting paid for it. While it just started out as annoying, you’re now concerned that they might have sleep apnea, which could seriously affect their health. They need to undergo a sleep study to find out what is going on, but convincing someone to do so is often easier said than done. Thankfully, there are a few simple tips that should make persuading them pretty straightforward, ensuring you’ll both be able to rest easy every night.

1. Record Their Snoring

Many people who snore don’t believe that they do, because of course, they’ve never heard it! Instead of just telling your partner about their chronic snoring night after night, show them. A quick recording with your phone or computer can show your partner that, “Yes, you struggle to breathe while you sleep, and yes, it’s really loud!” This will reveal that they have a problem and make them more likely to get a sleep study.

2. Get Factual

Once your partner is aware that there might be a problem with their sleep, it’s a good idea to talk about how it could be affecting their life. Is your partner tired all of the time despite how much they sleep? Do they have trouble remembering or focusing on tasks during the day? Are they having issues with their weight? Has constant exhaustion made them almost fall asleep while driving?

Talking about the negative effects of snoring and sleep apnea can demonstrate just how serious the problem is, plus you can also discuss how much better they will feel after having a study done and getting the appropriate treatment.

3. Walk Them Through a Sleep Study

Fear of the unknown is a real thing, and trying to convince your partner to take a medical test they’ve never experienced before quite the obstacle. To take away some of the mystery, you can both look up sleep studies to see how they work.

While traditionally it involves a patient spending the night in a lab, many patients are now able to complete a sleep study at home in their own bed. To get an even better idea of things, you can also schedule a consultation with their doctor.

4. Talk About How Much You Care About Them

Getting to the heart of the matter, simply let your partner know that you’re concerned for their health. You care about them, and you want them to be around for as long as possible. Just talking about how annoying their snoring is will likely make them defensive, but this warmhearted approach may be exactly what they need to hear to go on with a study.

While convincing your partner to get a sleep study might take some work, it will certainly be worth it. By finding the root of their sleep issue and getting it treated, not only will both of you be able to sleep better, but your partner will also be safeguarded against a litany of serious health issues, meaning you’ll have many more happy years together.

About the Author

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a certified sleep dentist and Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. He has been providing sleep apnea treatment in Jupiter for over 30 years, and if your partner is in need of a sleep study, he can help make it happen. And, if your partner still needs a little convincing to get one, he would be happy to speak with them himself at a consultation. To get in touch with Dr. Mogell, he can be contacted through his website.