Alexandria, VA -- (SBWire) -- 03/08/2016 --Recent news reports reveal that more and more couples are sleeping in separate bedrooms for a number of reasons. Most often this is due to one of the bedmates snoring so loudly that the other person prefers to sleep in a separate bed in a separate bedroom.

More than a quarter of U.S. couples -- 26 percent -- report sleeping more soundly when they're alone in a bed, according to a survey from the Better Sleep Council. Housing developers report that somewhere between 15 and 20 percent of their customers show interest in the "dual master bedroom concept".

Dr. Longman comments on the effects of snoring, "Snoring affects 30% of people in America, while second-hand snoring–being kept up or having your rest disturbed by a snoring partner, affects about 73% of people who sleep with someone who snores. Your entire night is spent trying to get enough oxygen to keep you alive. That doesn't sound like a rejuvenation of the mind and body, but rather like a bad dream."

"Although snoring seems physically harmless, it may be a red flag for a much more serious and sometimes fatal condition called obstructive sleep apnea. This happens when the air passage deflates, blocking airflow into the lungs. The harder one tries to breathe, the tighter the air passage seals." This airway blockage persists until the brain partly wakes up the person.

The exhausting sleep apnea cycle starts out by a person falling asleep, the jaw relaxing and the air passage collapsing. When the brain struggles to rouse itself before suffocation, the person unconsciously awakens with a gasp and then falls back to sleep only to start the cycle again. This cycle can repeat itself 50 or more times each hour during the night.

There are a number of common sense reasons for getting a good night's sleep; the consequences of not getting seven or eight hours of restful sleep may cause:

- Being slow to react to things
- Getting angry quickly
- Overeating
- Overspending
- Looking haggard
- Feeling just downright crappy

About Dr. Longman
Dr. Longman has always enjoyed science and holds a BS in Chemistry and a sub-major in Biology. His love for science combined well with his desire to become a dentist.

To make an appointment with Alexandria Old Town Dental call, 703-549-1331.