• Snoring can lead to issues in a relationship.
• One of the possible reasons for snoring is chronic sinusitis.
• A balloon sinuplasty can provide long-lasting effects, which can help end snoring.
The sound of sawing logs while a partner is sleeping can cause friction in a relationship, but the root of the snoring could signal a bigger issue. However, that issue could have a simple solution.
Dr. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said snoring could be caused by chronic sinusitis, and it can worsen over time without treatment.
"Once we begin to open our mouth and snore and our breathing becomes more dysfunctional, we're breathing in a labored away, which also tends to cause the tongue to collapse, and then eventually leads to obstructive sleep apnea," Trimble told SW Dallas News. "There's no doubt that if you look at snoring, the negative pressure affects the palate, on the soft tissue at the back of the throat, which persists over time, making those tissues more compliant or more loose and more likely to collapse. It just becomes this condition that tends to snowball over time, and that's why it's so important to address these conditions sooner than later."
In an international consensus statement on allergy and rhinology from Wiley, a multi-institutional case-control study was noted that focused on sleep patterns. This study showed that individuals who suffer from chronic sinusitis have an increased number of awakenings during a nights sleep, as well as spend a greater portion of the night snoring.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, drinking alcohol, taking muscle-relaxing sedatives, some pregnancy hormones and being overweight are other factors that could lead to snoring. If the snoring persists, a person could start to experience other health issues, such as a lower blood oxygen level, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and be at a higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
If chronic sinus issues are the root cause of your snoring, a balloon sinuplasty could be an option to provide long-lasting relief. The procedure is quick, painless and can be done right in your ENT doctor's office. It lasts approximately 20 minutes and involves your physician inserting a tiny balloon up the nose and inflating it so that the sinuses open up to promote easier breathing.
For more information about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
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