Snoring and Sinuses

NY SINUS CENTER STAFF JUL 7, 2011 9:13 PM

If you snore, chances are someone in your life has complained about it. Frequently. Rest assured, however—you’re in good company. Approximately half of adult Americans snore occasionally, and about a quarter snore regularly. The problem tends to be worse in males, and in overweight individuals. There’s more bad news: while you may hope your spouse will outgrow a snoring problem, it actually tends to get worse with age. Sometimes snoring and sinuses get substantially worse.

When we breathe, the air flow is typically smooth. However, obstructions in the airway can cause turbulence, and the turbulence can cause vibrations in the structure of the upper airway. These structures, including the sinuses, are essentially resonance chambers—so the vibrations can result in anything from the occasional snerk to full-on, earthquake-level snoring.

Silly as snoring can seem, it can also be indicative of some fairly serious problems. If you snore, you should probably be assessed for:

• Sinusitis
• Nasal polyps
• Enlarged adenoids
• Deviated septum

It is important to assess these conditions if only to rule them out—snoring is also associated with a serious medical condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea. People who snore may also be at higher risk for hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.

So, as your spouse may already be telling you, snoring is no joke. If you snore, give an NYC sinus doctor at the NYC Sinus Center a call. We can help.

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