Because sleep apneic patients often have symptoms of snoring, a sleeping partner may also experience interrupted sleep, and may experience similar side effects. Sleeping next to a snoring person can reduce total sleep time by 15%. The sleep apneic's partner may get morning headaches, experience fatigue, or irritability and resentment towards the constant sleep interruptions. If it progresses long enough, the partner may even wish to sleep in separate rooms, making intimacy rare or absent from the relationship.

Additionally, the sleep apneic patient can suffer from decreased libido and even impotence, creating even more problems with their partner. Diagnosis and treatment of the sleep apneic patient can help eliminate these problems.

By: Jennifer LaBombard