Maryland State Wire

• Snoring can lead to issues in a relationship.
• One of the possible reasons for snoring is chronic sinusitis.
• A balloon sinuplasty can provide long-lasting effects, which can help end snoring.

The sound of your loud snores could be doing more than keeping your partner up at night. Snoring can also be a sign of a larger, long-term sinus issue, which has a fix that could eliminate the sound of sawing logs in the bedroom permanently. 

Dr. Jamie Oberman of Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said that his practice offers a minimally invasive procedure called balloon sinuplasty, which can significantly help with sinus issues, including snoring.

"It addresses the anatomy in a minimally invasive, comfortable way for the patient without having to undergo general anesthesia, which was the conventional approach typical before the innovation with the balloons." Oberman told Maryland State Wire. "Under topical and local anesthesia, you can find the normal anatomic opening and widen it. A narrowed anatomic opening is what's called a hypo ventilated, under ventilated, unhealthy sinus, so that contributes to chronic symptomatology and recurrent infections. So, if you can open that anatomy with the balloon, it's much less morbid, safer for the patient, as well as more cost effective and efficient." 

In an international consensus statement on allergy and rhinology from Wiley, a multi-institutional case-control study was noted that focused on sleep patterns. This study showed that individuals who suffer from chronic sinusitis have an increased number of awakenings during a nights sleep, as well as spend a greater portion of the night snoring.

The Cleveland Clinic reported that drinking alcohol, taking muscle relaxers, pregnancy hormones and obesity can also cause snoring. If snoring happens over a prolonged period of time, it could also lead to other health issues, such as high blood pressure and an increased risk for heart attack or stroke. 

If a doctor determines that chronic sinus issues is the reason behind your snoring, a balloon sinuplasty could fix the problem. The procedure lasts approximately 20 minutes and is painless, minimally invasive and can be done right in your ENT doctor's office. During the procedure, your physician inflates a small balloon in your nasal sinuses to open the sinuses up to allow for easier breathing. 

For more information on the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.