According to the Mayo Clinic, as many as 50 percent of adults snore. Snoring can be an annoyance and cause relationship troubles for you and your partner, but it can cause a variety of other problems, as well. Obstruction of your breathing causes snoring. Sinus congestion is just one of many causes of obstructed breathing.
Causes of Nasal Congestion
Sinusitis -- inflammation within the sinus cavities caused by blockage of the small openings from the nose to the sinus cavities -- can cause nasal congestion. Allergies can also cause the lining of the nose and turbinates to swell, resulting in nasal congestion. Physical blockages may form from a deviated nasal septum or large turbinates. Polyps can also block airflow, as can benign and cancerous growths. Lack of rest, asthma, frequent swimming, overuse of nasal decongestants and nasal bone spurs may also cause congestion.
Treatment
If congestion is due to allergies, avoid the allergens causing the problem whenever possible. Avoiding chemical and environmental pollutants, temperature extremes and cigarette smoke can help prevent sinus problems. Using a humidifier, drinking fluids, taking prescribed decongestants or antibiotics and using air purification systems in your home can help prevent sinus complications. If you suffer from chronic sinus infections or sinusitis, surgery may be required.
Nasal Congestion and Snoring
Breathing through your nasal passage is more natural than breathing through your mouth, but if you are inhaling an insufficient amount of air through your nasal passage, then you begin breathing through your mouth. When nasal congestion forces you to breathe through your mouth during sleep, negative pressure develops behind the uvula and soft palate, thereby increasing vibration during sleep and creating audible snoring.
Other Causes of Snoring
Snoring has many causes besides nasal congestion. Sleep apnea, alcohol consumption, being overweight and your mouth anatomy can all contribute to snoring. Men are also more likely to snore than women.
Complications
In addition to being bothersome to others, snoring may cause daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating and a greater risk of high blood pressure, heart failure and stroke. It may also increase the risk of behavior problems, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, in children with obstructive sleep apnea.
Snoring Treatment
Losing weight, avoiding alcohol before bed and changing sleeping positions may help with snoring, but sometimes oral appliances, continuous positive airway pressure -- involving wearing a pressurized mask over your nose while you sleep -- or palatal implants may be necessary. Your doctor may also suggest traditional surgery, laser surgery or radio frequency tissue ablation.
