Sudden-onset snoring!

November 8, 2010 11:00 AM

Can a new mattress cause snoring? How do we make it stop?

My husband and I just got a new, fancy, expensive, super-comfortable mattress. I love it and fall asleep as soon as I close my eyes. But according to my husband, I then start snoring very loudly. Apparently, I snore for most of the night, and no amount of nudging or turning me over stops me.

We've slept on many different mattresses before, but we've never had this problem. I haven't gained or lost a lot of weight, I'm not drinking before bedtime, I'm not sick, and my airways seem to be clear. I sleep on my side. I don't seem to be waking up a lot or choking. I'm not pregnant.

I've read the other threads about snoring, but none of them seem to cover sudden-onset, mattress-related zzzzzs. I can't bear to give up our new mattress, but I also can't keep my spouse awake all night. Please help, hive mind!

posted by equipoise to health & fitness (5 answers total)

Is it really soft? Maybe you're sinking in and it's causing your neck to turn enough to snore.
posted by Blake at 11:07 AM on November 8, 2010

Like the above answer, I'd guess that it has to do with the relation of your body on the mattress to your head on the pillow. Is your neck at a different angle? Can you try a different pillow to see if it makes a difference?
posted by ldthomps at 11:13 AM on November 8, 2010

Try a different pillow. It sounds as though the softness of the mattress is causing your neck to be in a different angle than it was on your old mattress. A firmer pillow might solve this. Try a memory foam pillow or one filled with buck wheat. (See if you can borrow either from a friend for a night. They're a little pricey.)
posted by stoneweaver at 12:11 PM on November 8, 2010

Thanks, folks. I'll definitely try a different pillow tonight. Any other ideas, in case that doesn't solve the problem?
posted by equipoise at 12:27 PM on November 8, 2010

It could potentially be off gassing from the manufacturing. Some people are very sensitive to certain chemicals that can be present for a couple months. If the new pillow doesn't work, you might try getting a thick mattress topper (the kind that they sell to keep mattress clean) made out of cotton.

I really do think it's the pillow issue, though. If your neck is bending into a more V shaped pattern, that would definitely do it. Ask your husband if it is better/worse/no change if you're on your back.

Also, when you lay down, make sure that your shoulder is on the BED not on the pillow. The pillow should be between your head and shoulder.
posted by stoneweaver at 12:59 PM on November 8, 2010