Do you regularly spend your nights sawing logs while your partner quietly struggles to not suffocate your with the pillow? Well, there's at least one good thing about snoring: It burns more calories than regular plain old silent sleeping.

According to experts, a loud snorer burns, on average, 2,000 calories a day while at rest, while the slight snorer burns a mere 1,626. Though I'm guessing that's little consolation to said partner.

Before you defend your noisy sleeping habits as good for your waistline, keep in mind that snoring is actually more likely to cause weight gain. According to a study out of England, "Changes in body weight are associated with changes in sleep-disordered breathing severity. It is unclear whether weight gain is simply a cause of sleep-disordered breathing or whether sleep-disordered breathing may be associated with alterations in energy metabolism that, in turn, lead to weight gain."

The natural conclusion? Stop snoring. Oh, it's not that simple? Dang.

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Before my father was retired he had to wake up at 3 a.m. for work. After retirement, his early morning habit proved hard to break. Subsequently, the afternoons would inevitably find him snoozing on his recliner. Without fail, as soon as he'd hit a deep sleep he'd let out a massive snort, wake himself up, and grumble at my mom and I for "waking him up."
My dad's afternoon snoring puts him in the company of many others. How about you? Do you snore, too? Revolution Health offers some tips on snoring. Snoring is caused by a narrowing of the throat due to congestion, enlarged tonsils, or other issues. Conditions like asthma and obesity can also cause or exacerbate snoring. Contrary to what some might believe, snoring doesn't necessarily mean you have sleep apnea. But if you feel your snoring is excessive, it's a good idea to check with your doctor.

You can minimize your snoring by changing up some of your sleep routines. Try sleeping on your side and avoiding alcohol and smoking before bedtime. Also, if you have some weight to lose, dropping excess pounds will likely help your snoring. You can also see your doctor for other possible solutions such as a mouthpiece designed to minimize snoring.

Want to learn more? Chris tells us how excessive snoring may signal a health risk.

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People suffering from sleep apnea may soon have another option for getting better sleep. A new two-piece device called the Thornton Adjustable Positioner II (TAP II) is designed to hold the lower jaw forward while a person sleeps and has had positive results in reducing major snoring events per hour and also in helping to keep patients from running low on oxygen during the night.

There are more than 300 devices out there designed for this very purpose, but why not add one more? Snoring is an ongoing problem for as many as 45% of adults, so obviously there's always room for new and better treatments. Let's just hope this one doesn't become "random device number 301," and that it actually has a big impact and helps a lot of people.

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This week is National Sleep Awareness Week, and to celebrate the Loyola University Health System's Center for Sleep Disorders is encouraging all people who have any kind of sleep disturbance (snoring, gasping for air, waking up still tired, etc) be checked out for possible sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea affects more than 18 million people across the U.S., and although it's easily treatable it is also very serious when left undiagnosed. Risks increase for heart attack and stroke, not to mention all the negative effects from sleep deprivation.

So take some time this week to talk to your doctor if you think you may be at risk -- your heart will thank you.

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All the jokes and sitcom situations making light of couples fighting over one or the other's snoring habit may not be so funny after all: a recent study suggests that snoring not only interferes with getting enough sleep, for all people involved, but can also tear relationships apart. And sadly, the two play off each other -- lack of sleep making both parties tired, irritable, and less likely to be interested in intimacy.

There are treatments for chronic snoring, including everything from simple earplugs to more drastic measures like surgery. Experts warn that splitting into separate bedrooms should be viewed as a temporary fix for a problem like this one, and both should agree on a clear "plan of attack" for returning to a shared situation as soon as possible. For many couples, the time spent catching up on the day and visiting with each other while getting into bed is some of the only "alone time" they get all day.

So if this is something you're dealing with, be proactive! Don't let a little snoring action ruin your relationship.

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