{"id":387,"date":"2022-04-12T17:26:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-12T17:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dolfielddental.com\/blog\/?p=387"},"modified":"2022-06-09T22:56:35","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T22:56:35","slug":"sleeping-with-pets-impacts-sleep-apnea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dolfielddental.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/12\/sleeping-with-pets-impacts-sleep-apnea\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Sleeping with Pets Impact Your Sleep Apnea?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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People love their pets; almost 65% of American households own a pet, with cats and dogs being the most common companions. While there are numerous studies that show just how beneficial owning a pet can be, did you know that there are also some potential health concerns? Keep reading to learn more about how sleeping with your pets might be impacting your sleep apnea<\/a> and the quality of your nightly rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Advantages of Sleeping with Your Pet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many pet owners allow their pets to stay in their bedroom at night, and for good reason\u2014according to a study done by the Center for Sleep Medicine, 41% of owners claim that their pets aren\u2019t disruptive and that their presence even provided security, companionship, or relaxation! On top of that, some claimed that their pets helped keep them warm throughout the night; all that fur will do that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though these experiences vary from person to person, the value of the data cannot be dismissed; sleep is dependent on a state of both physical and mental relaxation, and pets are sometimes a catalyst for this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Sleeping with Your Pet Impacts Your Sleep Apnea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite the noticeable advantages of sleeping with your pet, there are also discernable disadvantages; the primary one being an impact on sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is brought on by the partial or full blockage of the airway. Pet dander is notorious for contributing to allergies, but it can also contribute to OSA and affect your airway as you sleep. Sleep apnea already makes breathing as you rest quite difficult; adding pet hair into the equation certainly worsens things!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minimizing Your Pet\u2019s Impact on Your Sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, it\u2019s for you to decide if your pet is welcome in your bedroom at night. If you do choose to let your furry friend join you, there are a few things you can do to minimize their impact on your sleep:<\/p>\n\n\n\n