They say a dog is man’s best friend, which is why it’s not uncommon to find dogs or other animals falling asleep on the person’s bed or in their room. This kind of companionship can be helpful for many individuals, but could it cause problems for one’s sleep quality? If you have sleep apnea, it might be a good idea to find out whether you should worry about cuddling with your canine night after night.
Is Sleeping With Your Pet Impacting Your Sleep?
Not necessarily, according to researchers. As part of a study performed by the Mayo Clinic, they compared the amount of time a person spends asleep to how much time they spend in bed, also referred to as sleep efficiency.
The data shows that individuals who shared a bed with another person but allowed their medium-sized dog to sleep in the same room experienced higher sleep efficiency. However, those who did not share a bed with a human partner but instead a small dog experienced lower sleep efficiency.
But before you decide to ban your bedtime buddy from the bedroom, note that even the experts claim this impact on sleep quality is minimal.
What If You Have Sleep Apnea?
It is possible that sharing a bed (or a room) with your pet can cause your sleep apnea symptoms to worsen.
Your inability to achieve a full night’s rest because of pauses in your breathing is likely already taking its toll on your physical, mental, and emotional health. Add in the movements of your dog or cat throughout the night, and you may find it harder to fall or stay asleep each time you wake up.
Also, since many pets shed, the accumulation of hair and dander can increase nasal congestion – a prominent issue known to worsen sleep apnea.
How Can You Achieve Quality Sleep & Keep Your Pet in Bed With You?
The most important thing you can do to start getting better rest is to schedule an appointment with a trusted sleep dentist in your area. Their experience, knowledge, and ability to develop a treatment plan that works will ensure you see noticeable, positive results over time. Whether it’s with a CPAP machine or oral appliance, the opportunity to breathe without interruptions and get adequate sleep is possible.
You can also:
- Regularly clean your sheets so that pet hair and dander do not accumulate and affect your breathing throughout the night.
- Inquire about an allergy medication you can take.
- Choose to buy your pet a comfortable bed of their own that you can keep in your room for them to sleep on.
No matter what you decide to do, remember that your overall health should come first. Once you begin to experience the positive effects of sleep apnea treatment, you can begin to determine where your lovable pet can comfortably rest their head at night.
About the Practice
Star Sleep & Wellness in Irving is pleased to have many experienced sleep professionals on staff who are committed to helping patients take back their life with sleep apnea treatment. Offering an array of solutions that can address many of the most common disorders (i.e., insomnia, OSA, narcolepsy, etc.), we are here to make sure you get the most comfortable night’s rest so that you can wake up refreshed each day and ready to go. If you have questions about whether you should let your dog, cat, or another furry friend in bed with you, contact our office and ask to speak to a member of our team.