Sleep Apnea vs Sinusitis
Sleep apnea and sinusitis can both cause disruption to your sleep. Sleep apnea and sinusitis involve some of the same anatomies and can both lead to snoring. The only difference is sinusitis blocks your nasal passages while sleep apnea blocks your throat. Sinusitis is a condition where the tissue lining of your sinuses become inflamed or swollen. On the other hand, sleep apnea is a disorder where your breathing can stop and start as you sleep. You can visit a sleep specialist clinic among the many in Singapore to get a more accurate diagnosis.
Your body’s natural reflex when you are asleep is to breathe through your nose. But, the sinus inflammation and swelling will force you to breathe through your mouth instead. Your soft palate relaxes when you sleep. It causes soft tissue to block the airway creating negative pressure. It causes the soft tissue to vibrate and make you snore.
Soft muscles at the back of your throat relax when you sleep, causing sleep apnea to occur. The soft palate, uvula, tonsils, tongue and the side of your throat are supported by these said soft muscles. Your airway closes as you inhale when these muscles relax. It causes your brain to wake you up since it can detect that you are unable to breathe.
Relieve Your Clogged Nose
Most people still ask how to clear a blocked nose. Because not all solutions work for different people, no one can rely on a single answer. Here are a few ways you can effectively relieve a clogged nose.
- Use a humidifier.
- Take a short shower.
- Stay hydrated with water.
- Use a saline spray or drain your sinuses.
- Use a warm compress.
- Take decongestants or antihistamines.
Conclusion
Being diagnosed with sleep apnea does not mean you will develop sinusitis. Nonetheless, the risk of sleep apnea patients also having sinusitis can increase. Remember that sleep apnea is a sleep disorder and sinusitis is a temporary infection.
Treatment of sinusitis and tonsillitis is the same anywhere in Singapore. It will eventually go away once addressed with effective antibiotic treatment. If you suspect that you have sleep apnea or chronic sinusitis, visit a sleep apnea expert from clinics around Singapore, like Dr Gan Eng Cern, for a more accurate diagnosis.
