Sleeping with someone is a nice comfort, but it’s not always the best thing if you want a good night’s rest.
A sleep doctor has revealed the biggest dangers of sharing a bed with someone that could be affecting your slumber.
Dangers of sharing a bed
Speaking on Byron Dempsey’s Driven Young podcast, Dr. Michael Breus revealed one of the biggest dangers of sharing a bed in unsurprisingly, snoring.
“If you’re sleeping next to a snoring bed partner, that sucks, that can definitely be an issue,” he said.
A survey by Sleep Foundation found that 75% of respondents said sleeping with a partner who snores impacts their sleep, and 77% added it affects their well-being. 44% also said their partner’s snoring made them tired the next day, and 33% revealed they felt cranky or moody.
The second danger Breus listed is not being used to having someone in the bed with you, which could impact sleep initially.
“If you haven’t had a long-term relationship with somebody sleeping in the bed with you for days, weeks, months, it’s definitely something to get used to,” he said.
According to the sleep doctor, the “biggest factor” of sharing a bed is temperature, as some people are warm sleepers and others are cold sleepers. Temperature of the room, thickness of the bed covers and body temperature of the person next to you can all impact your sleep.
Finally, the mattress is also a big danger of sharing a bed, as some people like a firm bed while others like a soft bed.
“There’s a lot of compromise that has a tendency to go on,” he said – and this compromise could cause one person to lose sleep.
One gender prefers sleeping together
The sleep doctor added that whether you sleep well while sharing a bed with somebody also partly comes down to gender.
“Men have a tendency to sleep better with someone in the bed, while women have a tendency to sleep better without someone in the bed,” he explained.
However, that’s just a generalization and it all comes down to the individual person. Some couples actually sleep better together.
One 2020 study in the Frontiers journal found that sharing the bed with a partner positively impacts sleep quality.
It analyzed young, healthy couples and found that compared to sleeping individually, co-sleeping was associated with about 10% more REM sleep, less fragmented REM sleep and longer undisturbed REM fragments.
Tips to help you sleep better
To sleep better, with or without a partner in the bed, the NHS recommends implementing a good sleep routine that you follow every single night, including a set time to start winding down and another to go to bed.
Avoid electronic devices at least an hour before bed, as mobiles, tablets and computers all emit blue light which stops sleep. Reading, listening to soft music, a podcast, or sleep meditation are all great alternatives.
It’s important to create a good sleep environment too. Generally, we sleep best in a quiet, dark and cool room. However, your sleep environment is personal, so it’s best to try a few different things and see what works for you.
If you live in a noisy area, wearing earplugs could help. Good blinds or curtains will keep the room dark, and opening a window or putting on a fan can help keep a hot, stuffy room cool. Some people like listening to calming sounds such as rainfall or white noise.
Finally, eating a good diet and doing regular exercise can do wonders for your sleep. You should also avoid eating large meals close to bedtime and don’t drink coffee too late in the day, as the caffeine will keep you awake.
Dr. Michael Breus is a clinical psychologist, board-certified sleep specialist and diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine.
