Sinus Allergies and Snoring: The Connection
Yes, sinus allergies can cause snoring through nasal congestion that leads to mouth breathing and altered airflow patterns during sleep. 1
Mechanism of Allergic Rhinitis and Snoring
- Allergic rhinitis causes nasal airflow obstruction, which is a major symptom of both seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis 1
- This nasal congestion forces patients to breathe through their mouths, especially during sleep, leading to snoring 1
- Patients with allergic rhinitis commonly present with secondary complaints of mouth-breathing, snoring, and symptoms of sinusitis 1
- The inflammatory response in allergic rhinitis causes swelling of nasal mucosa, further narrowing nasal passages and increasing airway resistance 1
Evidence Supporting the Connection
- Clinical studies have shown that participants who reported nasal congestion due to allergy were 1.8 times more likely to have moderate to severe sleep-disordered breathing than those without nasal congestion 2
- Participants who experienced nighttime symptoms of rhinitis (5 or more nights a month) were significantly more likely to report habitual snoring (3 to 7 nights a week) 2
- Severe allergic rhinitis has been associated with disordered sleep in as many as 76% of patients 1
- Habitual snorers have been found to have significantly lower nasal airflow than non-snorers 2
Types of Allergic Rhinitis That Can Cause Snoring
- Seasonal allergic rhinitis: Caused by IgE-mediated reactions to seasonal aeroallergens like tree, grass, and weed pollens 1
- Perennial allergic rhinitis: Caused by year-round allergens such as dust mites, molds, and animal dander 1
- Mixed rhinitis: A combination of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis, noted in approximately 44% to 87% of patients with allergic rhinitis 1
Treatment Approaches to Reduce Allergy-Related Snoring
- Nasal corticosteroids have been shown to decrease oral/oro-nasal breathing epochs and increase nasal breathing epochs, resulting in decreased snoring frequency by a median of 15.8% 3
- In patients with increased baseline nasal resistance, nasal steroids can decrease snoring intensity by approximately 10.6% 3
- For patients with allergic rhinitis due to house dust mites, antihistamine treatment combined with allergen exposure prophylaxis has been shown to reduce snoring 4
- Topical nasal corticosteroids are particularly effective for alleviating nasal congestion secondary to allergic rhinitis 5
Clinical Considerations and Pitfalls
- Not all patients with allergic rhinitis will develop snoring; the severity of nasal obstruction plays a key role 2
- There is not a linear correlation between the degree of nasal obstruction and the severity of sleep-disordered breathing 6
- Nasal obstruction is not the main contributing factor in most patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, though it may contribute to mild cases 6
- Patients with allergic rhinitis and snoring should be evaluated for other potential causes of upper airway obstruction, as multilevel anatomic obstruction is often present 6
- While treating allergic rhinitis may improve snoring, it may not be sufficient for patients with more severe sleep-disordered breathing 6