When your spouse is showing the symptoms of sleep apnea, such as snoring loudly and even choking or gasping for air during the night, it's important to ensure that he or she visits the family doctor promptly, given the serious nature of this sleep disorder. The doctor can refer your spouse to a specialist who can discuss strategies, which can include a breathing apparatus worn throughout the night that provides a steady source of oxygen. Once your partner is taken care of, it's time to shift the attention to yourself — and the reality is that sleeping beside someone using a breathing machine can take a bit of getting used to, given the sounds that it makes. Here are some strategies for sleeping soundly if you find yourself in this position.

Stagger Your Bedtimes

If it typically takes you a while to get to sleep, you might find yourself focusing on the gentle sounds of the machine, which could be enough to distract you. You can often avoid this dilemma by staggering your bedtimes slightly. If you typically go to bed together at 10 p.m., consider going at 9:45 p.m. and having your spouse arrive a little later than usual. Ideally, you'll be asleep by the time he or she arrives and less likely to notice the machine.

Play Something On Your Smartphone

Some gentle music or other sounds played on your smartphone can be enough to prevent you from hearing the breathing machine. You can either set the phone on your bedside table and set the volume to a gentle level or actually use your earbuds to further block out the sounds around you. Opt for some relaxing music or the sounds of nature, both of which you can find and buy as MP3s or use a streaming service. Be sure to set your device so that it will shut off once you think you'll have fallen asleep — for example, 20 minutes after you turn the lights out.

Use Earplugs

It can take a period of adjustment to get used to earplugs, but after a while, you'll hardly know that they're there. As such, they can be a valuable way to sleep soundly beside someone using a breathing machine. When you buy some in-ear earplugs, pick the softest foam you can find. If you don't have access to these devices, even placing a cotton ball in each ear can block some of the noise in the room and won't likely irritate your ears.

For more information about sleep apnea, visit CPAP Solutions.