Sometimes Snoring Occurs in the Nose
In addition to the most commonly experienced obstruction of the oral airway in the mouth, is obstruction of the nasal airway, which can also contribute to snoring.
The top of the tissue at the back of the mouth is also the bottom of the back of the nose. This shared "party wall" is the soft palate. As air struggles to get through a constricted nasal passageway that may be compromised by a crooked septum or enlarged nasal tissues called turbinates, vibration of tissue at the back of the nose may contribute to snoring. This obstruction may be due to simple genetics, trauma to the nose or frequently occurring and/or long-standing environmental allergies as culprits (i.e., hay fever, mold, etc.).
Nasal Snoring Can Be a Side Effect of Allergies
For the typical patient, it’s a lot easier to make at least a rudimentary self-assessment of snoring when it originates in the nose. A constant stuffy nose and allergies make it fairly obvious, but the nose's contribution to the snoring problem may not be so obvious.
The best course of action in seeking treatment is to be evaluated by Dr. Macdonald. Although your snoring may have an obvious element tied to the blockage in your nose, you may also have a secondary element to your snoring, which can originate in the mouth—particularly the soft palate. Many discover this once the nasal airway has been cleared.
Whether you snore or not, if you suffer from chronic allergies, you can learn more about minimally invasive solutions to this problem by reading about Coblation® for Allergies.