Poor sleep increases the risk of depression and damages skin. Photo / Getty Images.
Poor sleep increases the risk of depression and damages skin. Photo / Getty Images.
Do you find yourself tossing and turning throughout the night, left incensed by your partner's snoring and often embroiled in a game of duvet tug of war?
If this sounds all too familiar, it may be time to consider sleeping in a separate room or bed to your loved one.
Indeed, a study has found that 29 per cent of people said that their partners were the reason they couldn't get a good night's sleep.
With research proving that poor sleep increases the risk of depression, heart disease, stroke, respiratory failure and increases the risk of divorce and suicidal behaviour, experts say it may be worth considering other options in the bedroom.
The survey was undertaken by the University of Leeds and Silentnight.
Sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan said "Almost a third of Brits say they can't get a good night's sleep because they are disturbed by their partner. So for many people it's clear that sleeping in separate rooms might make for a better more restful sleep."
Poor sleep also totally wreaks havoc with our skin, according to a study conducted by University Hospital Case Medical Centre in Ohio.
They found that poor quality sleepers lost 30 per cent more water 72 hours after a skin barrier disruption, such as exposure to UV light than those who regularly have good quality sleep.
Crucially for women concerned with the signs of ageing, poor sleepers had twice the amount of intrinsic signs of ageing such as fine lines, reduced elasticity and uneven pigmentation, as well as recovering slower from sunburn.
Lack of sleep also puts many of us in a bad mood - and it's all down to science. There is an almond-shaped structure located deep in the brain that is believed to play an important role in our emotions and anxiety levels.
Twenty-nine per cent of people say their partners are reason behind poor sleep. Photo / Getty Images.
A study found that participants who had been sleep deprived for approximately 35 hours showed a greater amygdala response when presented with emotionally negative pictures when compared to those who had not been sleep deprived. This, in turn, can cause us to make erratic decisions at work and lash out at co-workers without reason.
Dr Guy Meadows, sleep expert for Bensons for Beds and founder of the Sleep School, said "It's rare that you find two people with the same sleeping habits and so sharing a bed can be a difficult and potentially a sleep depriving process."
If you don't have access to a spare room or single bed, Dr Guy has shared his top tips for managing it.
He says that many bedtime battles are the result of variations in bedtime routines.
"Whilst some people like to read a book, others love to watch TV. Compromise is the key and so find a routine that works for both parties. If that doesn't work, it may be a case of using ear plugs and eye masks to block out any unwanted noise and light," he said.
He also draws attention to the important of monitoring your body temperature, explaining "Traditionally, women feel the cold more than men, leading to variations in bedding and room temperature requirements. Using multiple blankets rather than a single duvet can help as it allows each person to easily change temperature according to their needs throughout the night."
Sleep disorders, Dr Guy notes, can also affect both of you. The most common problem is snoring, which affects 40 per cent of the population.
He suggests having the snorer sleep on their side and avoiding sedatives such as alcohol and antihistamines (cold and flu remedies) to help to improve airflow and limit snoring.
