Washington DC, United States: Over one-third of American couples chose not to sleep with their partners, a survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) noted. The medicine school has outlined that this practice of sleeping in different rooms, consistently or occasionally, is known as “sleep divorce.”
Accordingly, the couple opts for this practice to avoid constant rattling with loud snoring and to avoid stealing covers as well as tossing and turning all night. The AASM outlined that sleep divorce has been helping Americans to have improved sleep.
The Academy of Sleep Medicine has further disclosed that men most likely shift to another room for sleeping, as compared to women. Approximately forty-five percent (45%) of men go to a sofa or guest room, compared to just twenty-five (25%) of women.
The details regarding this practice were shared by the spokesperson of the AASM, Dr Seema Khosla, who also works as a pulmonologist. Dr Khosla was quoted saying, “We know that poor sleep can worsen your mood, and those who are sleep deprived are more likely to argue with their partners. There may be some resentment toward the person causing the sleep disruption, which can negatively impact relationships.”
She continued, “Getting a good night’s sleep is important for both health and happiness, so it’s no surprise that some couples choose to sleep apart for their overall well-being,” as per the official statement by the AASM.
Furthermore, Dr Khosla shed light on the importance of sleep in making a relationship healthy. It is to be noted that if a man or woman who is in a relationship takes proper and healthy sleep, then they are less likely to get engaged in conflicts with their partners.
It is also mentioned that less sleep can decrease levels of ‘empathetic accuracy,” which means that if a couple does not have the right amount of healthy sleep, then they will fail to understand the feelings of their partner.
The stats shared by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine have mentioned that millennial couples most likely opt for this practice of sleep divorce. Accordingly, nearly half (43%) of millennials occasionally or consistently sleep in another room.
One-third, around 33%, of Generation X follows millennials in the list. Around 28% and 22% of Generation Z and baby boomers, respectively, follow this trend of sleeping in different rooms.
Dr Khosla further clarified that the term ‘sleep divorce’ may sound harsh and against a relationship, but it is essential for the people who prioritize their sleep and to ensure that the sleep routine is not disturbed they move into a separate room when needed.
AASM Spokesperson Seema Khosla mentioned, “However, if it is one partner’s loud snoring that is leading to separate sleep spaces, then you should encourage that partner to talk to a doctor about obstructive sleep apnea. This applies to both men and women who may snore.”
Sleep Apnea, one of the major reasons behind sleep divorce:
According to medical experts, sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder in which breathing oftenly starts and stops while sleeping. Doctors suggest that if an individual is tired even after a full night’s sleep and snores loudly, then he/ she might have sleep apnea.
While emphasizing that snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, AASM highlighted that loud and frequent snoring can be a symptom of this sleeping disorder. It also highlighted that snoring is a warning sign in the case of sleep apnea, which should not be neglected.
In addition to this, AASM highlighted that if snoring is accompanied by gasping, choking as well as silent breathing pauses during sleep, then it strongly indicates sleep apnea.
Along with this, other symptoms of this disorder include:
– Fatigue
– Daytime sleepiness
– Insomnia
– Unfreshened sleep
– Walking during the night to go to the washroom
– Morning Headaches
– Memory loss
– Difficulty in concentrating
– Irritability, and
– Difficulty in staying awake while watching television
The key risk of this sleep disorder is excessive body weight.