The Link Between Allergies and Snoring

Yes, allergies can cause snoring.

One in five people suffers from some sort of allergy according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. That is approximately 50 million Americans. The chances are exceptionally high that you or someone you are close to suffers from some type of allergy, whether its seasonal, dust related, pet dander or even food.

Life can be miserable for allergy sufferers. And if the daytime misery isn’t enough, imagine the impact nasal allergies have on your sleep. Increased nasal obstruction can cause or worsen snoring and contribute to sleep apnea making it impossible to get a good night’s rest.

To learn more about how allergies may be affecting your sleep, let’s evaluate the impact of allergies on snoring, what types of allergies there are, what the symptoms are, and how these problems can be treated.

Allergies and Snoring

Allergies typically occur when allergens in the air are breathed in by someone who is allergic to them, aggravating and inflaming the nasal passages. When your allergies are triggered, your immune system sees that as a hazard and kicks in. Your body sends a chemical message to the cells in your lungs, nose, and mouth to release histamines. Histamines boost the blood flow in the area that is affected by the allergen, thus causing inflammation.

So, if your allergies are affected by something such as pollen or dust, histamines prompt the thin walls in your nose to make more mucus. The result, you get either a stuffy or runny nose. The mucus can also irritate your throat and airway resulting in inflammation and obstruction of freely moving air through the passageways.

Snoring is caused by a lack of freely moving air through the nose and throat during sleep. When there is a lack of air, the surrounding tissues in the nose and throat vibrate, producing that annoying snoring sound.

Types of Allergies

There are several very broad categories of allergies, and the most common are:

Indoor allergies, such as dust or mold.
Seasonal allergies, typically worse when the pollen levels increase such as during the Spring or Fall.
Pet and animal allergies such as dogs, cats, etc.
Food allergies, such as shellfish, strawberries or peanuts.
Perennial allergies can be year-round.
Drug or medication allergies.
Insect bites or stings
Anaphylaxis, an acute allergic reaction to which a body has become extremely sensitive.

Symptoms

The symptoms can vary from person-to-person. They can make you feel awful and keep you or someone you love up all night.

Common symptoms linking allergies with snoring are:

Inflammation of the tongue, lip, or throat.
Excess mucus production.
Inflammation of the airways.
Exhaustion.
Congestion.
Wheezing.
Trouble breathing.
Stuffiness.
Itchy nose.
Coughing.
Dryness.
Post-nasal drip.

Conventional Treatments for Snoring Caused by Allergies

Allergies are typically treated with medications such as:

Antihistamines-prevent the release of histamines that cause the allergic reaction.
Over-the-counter medications that work as decongestants.
Immunotherapy drugs.

Medications for allergies lessen the symptoms. When you take medications for allergies, you tend to interrupt the natural process of your immune system and alter the pH balance. These medications counteract the effect of histamine produced by the body, and they do have side effects such as fatigue, dryness of the eyes, nose, and mouth, heart palpitations, and insomnia.

How can you eliminate snoring linked to allergies without relying on medications that make you feel drowsy and uncomfortable?

Contemporary Snoring Treatments

These contemporary approaches help you relieve the symptoms of allergy-related snoring and help you sleep better.

Snoring Mouthpiece

A snoring mouth guard or mouthpiece is a non-invasive oral appliance that is an effective treatment option and can eliminate snoring altogether. It fits like a sports mouthguard or an orthodontic retainer, supporting the jaw in a forward position naturally opening the airway. It depresses the tongue, so it doesn’t move to the back of the throat and block breathing and prevents soft palate tissue from impeding into the airway, and it is also relatively inexpensive.

Air Purifiers

Air purifiers are electronic devices that you can run in your home during the day or at night while you sleep. They are a non-invasive, all-natural solution to allergy-related snoring and have the ability to remove allergens and other contaminants out of the air.

An air purifier such as SalinPlus not only gives relief from allergy-related snoring and respiratory issues by removing airborne pollutants such as pollen, dust, pet dander and cigarette smoke, but the tiny salt particles emitted from the device help to clear mucus.

It works by drawing air into the back of the device and pushes it through a filter with a small fan. It disburses minute sodium crystals into the air causing the micro-crystalline salts to generate a very fine constant spray in the area surrounding it. The tiny salt particles penetrate deeply into your lungs, reducing inflammation and widening the airways. Additionally, the mist has some anti-bacterial benefits.

Final Thoughts

Allergy-related snoring can be very unpleasant. The symptoms can be irritating and affect your overall quality of life. It is crucial you are aware of the allergy and take steps to lessen or eliminate the effects to ensure a better quality of life for not only you but your loved ones, as well.