Grand Canyon Times

• 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.

Chronic sinusitis can lead to issues like snoring, but a balloon sinuplasty can help alleviate those issues, according to Dr. Brian Lee of Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center.

"Usually patients with chronic sinusitis have issues breathing through the nose," Lee told the Grand Canyon Times. "Most patients come in saying that they're chronic mouth-breathers, they don't sleep very well, they wake up with a really dry mouth, they start snoring more or louder. A lot of that just comes down to their nose being plugged and not functioning properly, and that can definitely impact the quality of their sleep."

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 attacks and strokes.

At-home remedies to try 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 will insert a tiny balloon into your nasal sinuses and inflate 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.