In Bed with a Married Woman

In observance of National Sleep Awareness Week, the National Sleep Foundation conducted its annual Sleep in America poll to find out: Do single women sleep better?

Cohabitation: the stuff that sleepless nights are made of. While many women relish the thought of snuggling into bed with a partner at the end of a wearying day, it turns out that slumbering with a significant other may be costing us a good night's rest.

According to the National Sleep Foundation's 2005 Sleep in America poll, three-quarters of those with bedmates say their partner has a sleeping problem. And when one person in bed is tossing and turning, chances are that so is the other. Almost the same number of respondents whose partners suffer from abnormal sleep say they also frequently experience sleep problems.

The biggest culprit? Snoring. Two-thirds of people in couples say their significant other's snoring keeps them up at night.

The average nonsingle American loses 49 minutes of shut-eye each night as a result of a partner's sleep issues. Totaled up over the year, that's 300 hours of lost pillow time. Considering that one-quarter of people surveyed said sleep problems continually affect their daily activities, those 49 minutes seem more precious than any other hour in the day. In fact, 50 percent of respondents claim they are often tired, fatigued or not up to par during the day. Seventeen percent say they feel this way almost daily.

With little energy for the day-to-day activities of work and life, many couples are finding that their love lives are also suffering from lack of sleep. One-quarter of partnered adults say their sexual relationships have been affected by their own or their partner's exhaustion, and one-third believe their partner's sleep issues cause problems in their overall relationship.

Sleep problems can alienate couples, especially when one person is consistently keeping the other awake. Almost one-quarter end up moving out of the bedroom, taking refuge on a spare bed or couch. "In my practice, I've found when couples are forced to sleep apart because of one partner's sleep problems, it often has a terrible effect on the relationship," says Meir Kryger, MD and cochair of the NSF's 2005 poll task force. "It's a move of a last resort... [and] both partners are often devastated by this action."

Despite all these ways that sleeplessness is affecting quality of life, most choose to do nothing about their habits, and have never thought of consulting a doctor. The NSF urges adults to recognize the symptoms of sleep problems and to get them treated. One family member's sleep habits can affect others', so urge your partner to seek help for snoring, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.

10 Tips for Better Sleep from the National Sleep Foundation
1. Maintain a regular bedtime and wake-time schedule, including weekends.
2. Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music.
3. Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool.
4. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.
5. Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex. It is best to take work materials, computers and televisions out of the sleeping environment.
6. Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime.
7. Exercise regularly. It is best to complete your workout at least a few hours before bedtime.
8. Avoid nicotine (e.g., cigarettes, tobacco products). Used close to bedtime, it can lead to poor sleep.
9. Avoid caffeine (e.g., coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime. It can keep you awake.
10. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime. It can lead to disrupted sleep later in the night.