Columbus Standard

• Up to 45 percent of American adults snore, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
• One of the possible reasons for snoring is chronic sinusitis.
• A balloon sinuplasty can provide long-lasting effects, which can help end snoring.

If you're not breathing well through your nose, you might have problems with snoring. But a balloon sinuplasty procedure can help, according to Dr. Anthony Sanders of Indianapolis Sinus Center. 

"I think anybody who's had a cold before and doesn't breathe well through their nose realizes how important good nasal breathing is to good sleep," Sanders told the Columbus Standard. "I get the elbow treatment from my wife when I have a cold and my nose gets blocked up. I can't breathe as well, I tend to snore more and I feel lousy the next day. So chronic nasal obstruction can affect sleep quality. There have been some conflicting studies that talk about that. But I think common sense tells you that good nasal breathing is important to good sleep quality."

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.

Other factors that might cause people to snore include drinking alcohol or taking other muscle-relaxing sedatives, certain hormones caused by pregnancy, or being overweight, according to 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 attack and stroke.

At-home remedies include sleeping on your side, sleeping with your head elevated or using nasal strips. If none of those methods help you stop snoring, a balloon sinuplasty procedure can clear your sinuses for long-lasting relief. The procedure typically lasts approximately 20 minutes, during which an ENT physician inserts a tiny balloon into your nasal sinuses and inflates it, allowing the sinuses to open up and helping you to breathe more easily. The procedure is minimally invasive, pain-free and done in the provider's office.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.