sinus & snoring | Pristyn Care

First things first, snoring can ruin your daily sleep. It can be either your snoring patterns or partner with whom you share the bed. The rattling sound can interfere with your daily life. But hold on. You might have a much more serious issue that is causing this problem. The health issue that can be hampering your life can be sinusitis.  

Why do people snore?

A snore is often associated with a growling sound. The sound that we hear comes from the tissues present near the vibrating throat. Let’s dig into this a little deeper. Our human anatomy allows us to breathe through the nose. The nose not only allows you to breathe but it also acts as a humidifier, heater, and filter for the air entering the nose. But sometimes due to some conditions you might have to breathe through your mouth. There is a difference in breathing through the mouth and breathing through the nose. The air entering the lungs through the mouth is lesser than the air entering through the nose.

Some of the possible reasons that can make the airways narrower are-

The connection between sinusitis and snoring:

So how exactly is sinusitis connected to snoring? Sinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal passages and paranasal sinuses.  Some of the common symptoms of sinusitis include congestion and swelling in the nasal airways which makes it difficult to breathe. Not only normal breathing becomes difficult but sleeping during the night gets equally hampered. 

Let me explain what happens when you are asleep. The vulva, which is a soft tissue that hangs when you open your mouth wide and the soft palate relaxes. 

Due to inflammation and swelling in the nasal airways caused by sinusitis, you might be forced to breathe through the mouth when you are asleep. Hence, when you sleep with your mouth open, it can cause vibration in the tissues.

Also Read: Doctor’s Advice on: Are Antibiotics really helpful in Chronic Sinusitis?

When snoring becomes serious?

Snoring is directly linked with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). There has been enough evidence that suggests sleep apnea due to snoring can have catastrophic effects on cardiac health. Hence, sinusitis-related snoring is an important factor that needs to be considered after cardiovascular health. Some long term consequences are-

  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Increased risk of heart diseases
  • A higher risk of stroke, diabetes, and depression
  • Weight gain 
  • Higher risk of heart failure 

Also Read: Myth or Fact: Is Snoring Bad for My Health?

What is the treatment for sinusitis-related snoring?

Snoring due to sinusitis is completely treatable. The treatment for sinusitis depends on the underlying condition that has contributed to the development of the problem in the first place. People suffering from sinusitis due to a deviated septum can undergo a septoplasty. In this procedure, the septum is refigured into its original state so that the airflow can be better through the nose. The surgical procedure takes almost one and a half hours to complete. The E.N.T doctors remove the extra cartilage or bone in this procedure to straighten the septum. On the other hand, sinusitis that develops due to other reasons can be cured using Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) surgery. 

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