So, you’ve had countless nights of peaceful sleep beside your husband, but suddenly, he’s like a snoring machine. What’s happened?
This super sudden change is not just puzzling… It can seriously disrupt your sleep and quality of life.
So, why is your husband snoring all of a sudden, and more importantly, what can you do about it?
Snoring is more than just annoying… It can be a sign of underlying health issues that need attention and might be causing you sleep deprivation.
In this article, we’ll explore the common causes of sudden snoring and provide practical solutions to help you both get back to a good night’s sleep.
5 Reasons Why Your Husband May Start Snoring All Of A Sudden
Sometimes, snoring can start unexpectedly, even if your husband has never been a snorer before. Here are some common reasons why he might be snoring all of a sudden:
Reason #1: Weight Gain
If your husband has gained weight recently, especially around the neck area, it could be contributing to his snoring.
Being overweight can put pressure on the airway, making it more likely to collapse inwards during sleep, which might lead to snoring.
This might be especially true if his weight gain has occurred very quickly since a sudden increase in soft tissue around the neck area can obstruct the airway, causing airflow to vibrate within the throat, resulting in those loud snoring sounds.
Reason #2: Allergies or Nasal Congestion
Seasonal allergies or a sudden bout of nasal congestion can cause snoring by blocking the nasal passages.
If his nose is congested, your husband may start breathing through his mouth, which usually increases the likelihood of snoring.
Allergies can also cause some inflammation in the nasal passages, which can impact airflow, forcing the body to compensate by making you snore.
A cold, sinus infection, or even environmental factors like dust or pet dander might also cause nasal congestion. Read more about why you can’t breathe through your nose while you sleep.
Reason #3: Sleep Position
Has your husband recently changed his sleep position? If he has suddenly started sleeping on his back more often, this might just very well be the culprit behind his sudden snoring.
This is because sleeping on your back allows the tongue and soft tissues in your mouth and throat to collapse to the back of your airway, obstructing airflow and causing snoring.
This sleeping position is the worst for snoring because gravity is working against the airway.
Reason #4: Alcohol Consumption
Has your husband been drinking more alcohol than usual before bed? If so, we might’ve found the reason behind his sudden snoring.
This is because alcohol is a central nervous depressant and relaxes the muscles in the body, including those in the throat, which can contribute to snoring.
Even a very moderate amount of alcohol before heading off to bed can cause too much relaxation of the throat’s muscles, leading to more obstructed airflow and loud snoring.
This relaxation of the throat muscles may make snoring worse than before or even could cause it to start suddenly.
Reason #5: Snoring and Sleep Apnea
A more serious reason for sudden snoring is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA for short). OSA is a common sleep disorder in which the airway becomes repeatedly blocked during sleep, causing pauses in breathing and often loud snoring.
If your husband has started snoring suddenly and also experiences symptoms like gasping for air during sleep where it seems like he may stop breathing, excessive daytime tiredness or fatigue, or waking up with a very dry mouth, it might be time to consult a doctor (preferably a sleep medicine specialist).
OSA is a serious condition that usually requires treatment to prevent health complications.
What to Do If Your Partner Is Snoring
Dealing with a snoring partner can be frustrating, but there are several strategies you can try to reduce or eliminate the snoring and get your sleep quality back. Let’s take a look:
#1: Mouth Tape
One of the most effective snoring solutions is using mouth tape to encourage nasal breathing, which can help reduce or stop snoring.
The practice of mouth taping involves using medical-grade tape to gently hold the lips closed, preventing mouth breathing and encouraging airflow through the nose.
This can be particularly helpful if your husband’s snoring is due to mouth breathing (which is very likely!) since breathing through the mouth can contribute to vibrations within the soft tissues in the throat that lead to snoring.
Not all mouth tapes are created equally though, so you’ll need to choose one carefully for the best results.
Dream Recovery Mouth Tape is the superior choice - thanks to the use of organic bamboo silk, and a high-tech hypoallergenic adhesive, it’s luxuriously soft and gentle on sensitive skin while being strong enough to stay on all night.
Learn more about the best mouth tapes for sleep
Note: It’s important to only use mouth tape if you can comfortably breathe through your nose.
#2: Adjusting His Sleeping Position
Encourage your husband to sleep on his side instead of his back to see if that makes a difference.
Sleeping on your side helps keep the airway open and reduces the chances of the tongue and soft tissues collapsing backward causing snoring.
If your husband finds it difficult to stay on his side, consider ordering a special body pillow or a sleep positioner to help him maintain this position throughout the night.
An anti-snoring “wedge” pillow might also help to prevent snoring by raising his head while supporting his neck and shoulders.
#3: Nasal Strips or Dilators
If nasal congestion is behind your husband’s snoring, nasal strips or dilators might help.
These nasal devices work by opening up the nasal passages, making it easier to breathe through the nose which can sometimes reduce the likelihood of snoring.
While both work to increase the area in which air can flow into the nose, they are slightly different in how they do so. Nasal strips are adhesive and stick to the outside of the nose, “pulling” it open, while nasal dilators are small devices inserted into the nostrils.
Here you can compare nasal strips vs nasal dilators and learn more about how to widen nasal passages naturally.
#4: Mouthguards
Mouthguards, also known as mandibular advancement devices (MADs), can sometimes be an effective solution for reducing or eliminating snoring, although they’re not a solution for everyone.
These devices are placed inside the mouth, and work by positioning the lower jaw slightly forward, which helps keep the airway open during sleep.
Mouthguards are often recommended for those who snore due to sleep apnea or have issues with their jaw alignment. If you decide to try this route, it’s super important to choose a mouthguard that your husband properly fits properly and is comfortable to wear throughout the night.
Explore more on how mouthguards can help with snoring.
#5: Lifestyle Changes
Sometimes, snoring can be improved by making a few important lifestyle changes. Encouraging your husband to lose excess weight, reduce his alcohol consumption, and quit smoking can all help to reduce the risk of snoring.
These changes can improve overall health and reduce the factors that contribute to snoring, such as airway obstruction and muscle relaxation during sleep.
#6: Consider a Sleep Study
If your husband’s snoring is persistent and severe even after trying at-home interventions, then it may be time to consider a sleep study.
A sleep study can help diagnose whether his snoring is due to obstructive sleep apnea or a different sleep disorder, which might require CPAP treatment (or other CPAP alternatives).
Sleep studies are conducted either at home or in a sleep center, where his sleep will be monitored to look out for any issues. This can lead to effective treatment options and help improve his health and your sleep quality too!
FAQ
Why is my husband's snoring getting worse?
Your husband’s snoring might be getting worse due to sudden weight gain, mouth breathing, a new sleep position, nasal congestion, or a more serious condition such as obstructive sleep apnea.
How do I make someone stop snoring immediately?
To make someone stop snoring immediately, you can get them to try sleeping on their side, use mouth tape to prevent mouth breathing or ask them to try nasal strips or dilators to widen their nasal passages.
Can snoring be caused by a health condition?
Yes, snoring can be caused by a health condition such as sleep apnea or nasal obstructions like a deviated septum and nasal polyps. That’s why it’s always best to talk to your doctor if snoring comes on suddenly or worsens significantly.
Final Thoughts
If your husband has suddenly started snoring, this can be a sudden and frustrating issue, we get it! However, understanding the underlying causes and exploring practical solutions can help restore your sleep.
Whether it’s a change in sleep position, lifestyle habits, or even a more serious condition like sleep apnea, there are steps you can take to address the problem your husband is struggling with.
If your husband doesn’t struggle to breathe through his nose, one of the most effective and simple solutions is to try mouth tape, which encourages nasal breathing and can significantly reduce snoring.