subject: Sinus Infections And Snoring Or Sleep Apnea - Nurse's Guide [print this page] If you think you have a sinus infection or an inflammation of the sinuses called sinusitis, which can be either acute or chronic, it's possible that if you snore it could be because of the sinus problem. You could also be snoring and have sinus infection symptoms and have sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea.
It's very common to snore when you have a sinus infection, acute or chronic sinusitis or any kind of sinus problem. Oftentimes this will be the first sign that you may have a sinus problem, especially if you don't usually snore and a partner lets you know you've started snoring.
Changes take place in the upper airway during sleep from the back of your nose to the base of your tongue. Muscles supporting the opening of the upper airway relax while you sleep and extra tissue in the roof of your mouth and the uvula (hangs down between your tonsils) vibrates with each breath that you take. This airway can close anywhere on that pathway.
Though snoring is caused by the vibration of these soft parts in the throat during sleep while you're breathing, it can be continuous snoring with each breath you take or intermittent snoring with breath-holding periods. When this happens these periods are called apneas. If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea it's important that you get checked out as soon as possible. Sleep apnea is serious.
Snoring can be due to several factors including sleeping on your back, being overweight, especially carrying fat in the neck, smoking, drinking alcohol to excess, allergy, asthma or sinus infections or other sinus problems, the shape of your face and airways that are narrow due to nasal obstruction, polyps or a deviated nasal septum.
If you have health problems such as hypertension, arrhythmias, heart disease, stroke, impotence, morning headaches, night sweats, heartburn, bronchitis lung or stomach diseases along with the suspected apneas or obstructive sleep apneas make sure to make an appointment to see your doctor.
If your sinus problem is coupled with new snoring there may be a good chance the snoring is related to your sinus infection or sinuses and less of a chance that you have sleep apnea. Generally people can use a natural home sinus treatment to get rid of their infection or the beginning of one. Or you may have sinus irritation from allergies, exposure to dust, sawdust, dust mites, fumes or smog and take care of it at home too without medications or drugs. Antibiotics are no longer prescribed routinely for sinus problems since most are not caused by bacteria.
