Nature Coast Times

• Chronic sinusitis can lead to snoring.

• Snoring can cause other medical issues, including higher risk for heart attacks and strokes.

• A balloon sinuplasty can fix chronic sinus problems.  

If you’ve noticed that you've recently begun snoring, it could be that sinus problems are contributing to the issue.

Snoring can lead to daytime fatigue, headaches, nighttime chest pain and morning sore throats, according to Kaplan Sinus Relief, so it might be something you want to address, and balloon sinuplasty could help. 

"Sinusitis and sleep are very closely connected,” Dr. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Nature Coast Times. “Many patients come in with sinus issues, and many of them have bad sleep problems as well, and many times that's what brings them in: the sleep problems.”

Snoring is a physical response that occurs if you’re unable to breathe through your nose while sleeping. Inflamed or infected sinuses can lead to snoring. Breathing through the mouth while sleeping causes the airways to narrow and the soft tissue in the throat to vibrate, causing the snoring sound, according to Kaplan Sinus Relief. 

Not all snoring stems from sinus problems, however. Drinking alcohol, taking muscle-relaxing sedatives, the release of certain hormones caused by pregnancy or being overweight also can lead to snoring, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Snoring over a long period of time can lead to health problems, including a lower blood oxygen level, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and higher risk for heart attacks and strokes.

Pate said balloon sinuplasty procedure can resolve snoring that is associated with sinus problems.

"The sinusitis is uncovered through the exam,” Pate said. “Patients who aren't able to breathe through their nose, either by physical obstruction or because the sinuses are blocked, their quality of sleep is very low.”

That starts a vicious cycle, Pate added.

“It can lead to increased snoring, which can lead to fragmented sleep patterns, which can lead to fatigue and chronic sleep problems,” she said.

Balloon sinuplasty can help. The procedure typically lasts approximately 20 minutes, during which an ear, nose and throat (ENT) physician inserts a tiny balloon into your nasal sinuses and inflates it. This allows the sinuses to open up and helps you breathe more easily. The procedure is minimally invasive, pain-free and done in the office. 

Before seeing an ENT, it is recommended to try at-home remedies such as sleeping on your side, sleeping with your head elevated or using nasal strips. 

If you're interested in learning more about sinusitis and allergy symptoms, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.