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Do you snore? In almost every household there’s at least one person who snores while sleeping. Snoring is often a source of laughter and jokes but it could be a sign of an underlying health issue.
If you live alone you might not know if you snore. Conversely, if you sleep in the same bedroom as others you might keep them awake.
It sounds obvious but it’s important to understand why you’re snoring.
I grew up snoring but disregarded it as “the way things were”. I sensed something was wrong but didn’t try to understand why. After all, many people snore and many snorers are healthy right?
In this article I’ll share my experience snoring and why I was doing it. I had no idea that dust mite allergy and snoring were connected. I made a few lifestyle changes, received treatment, and I no longer snore.
It took a long time for me to understand my allergy symptoms and I hope this article provides the information you need to get relief fast.
What Is Snoring
A vibration of the soft palate causes snoring. The vibration occurs when air struggles to enter the body – in other words, air is having trouble getting past the mouth or sinuses and into the lungs.
A loud noise follows that can resonate throughout a house, wake people up, or make them laugh.
Is Snoring An Allergy Symptom 
Let’s get a few things straight. Everyone has snored at some point in his or her life. It can be due to a cold or sinus infection. It can even be a result of the sleeping position. Occasional snoring is natural so don’t be alarmed.
If you have allergies like I do you might have chronic snoring. Chronic snoring is a sign that something may be wrong. It’s important to note that although it was an allergy symptom for me, it may be different for you.
Snoring can be a sign of:
- Allergies (allergic rhinitis)
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Cold
- Sinus Infection
- Alcohol Consumption
- Deviated Nasal Septum
Growing up I always experienced a chronically stuffy nose. Because my nose was stuffed up I had trouble breathing through it at night and primarily breathed through my mouth.
In college I participated in sleep apnea sleep studies and even saw an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor who put a camera up my nose to look around. He told me I had sinus inflammation and prescribed steroid nasal spray.
I was in my 20’s and had suffered from a congested nose and snoring for years. I had no idea it was allergies. Ten years later I would finally visit an allergist and was treated for allergic rhinitis.
Within a year, the snoring that I’d experienced for 20 years was gone. Even though it took over a year of treatment to feel better, it felt like a switch was flipped because I’d been snoring for 20 years!
3 Take-Aways of Dust Mite Allergy and Snoring
In the section above we’ve learned that snoring can be symptomatic of a number of issues. Now it’s time to narrow the reasons down.
Dust mite allergy is unique because allergy symptoms are year-round. Year-round symptoms are fairly uncommon because pollen and mold are major allergens and more seasonal (18 questions and answers about dust mites).
If you are suffering from year-round snoring then it could be caused by dust mites. Interestingly, dust mites thrive in beds which make them the perfect cause of allergic rhinitis and snoring.
#1 Sinus Inflammation and Allergic Rhinitis (What’s The Cause)
If your sinuses are chronically inflamed there’s a good chance it’s due to allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is inflammation of the nasal passages that causes congestion and mucus production.
You snore, but the real question is why? Something is making your sinuses inflamed.
- Is your nose always stuffed up? (could be dust mites)
- Is it seasonal? (maybe another allergen like pollen or mold)
- Do you have pets in the house? (possibly allergic to pet dander)
You might be thinking “I don’t have dust mites because I’ve never seen them in my house”. Guess what? Dust mites are invisible to the naked eye and over 70% of households have dust mites.
Dust mites are almost certainly in your home and silently live in carpets, beds, couches, eating our dust. Humans shed skin constantly (the primary source of dust). That dust that you wipe off the bookshelf…yes, that’s mostly your dead skin.
Dust mites actually do us a favor by recycling our waste. For most people, dust mites will never be acknowledged but for the millions that have allergy symptoms, they will be despised. Bed covers, air purifiers, using HVAC allergy filters, and removing carpeting will help remove dust mite populations from your house.
I had a lot of success just by covering my bed and keeping my house clean.
#2 Mouth Breathing And Time Of Day
If you suspect your snoring is due to dust mite issue you should keep track of your breathing. Most people with dust mite allergy will experience nasal congestion at night and in the morning due to being in proximity to dust mites.
Congestion typically decreases throughout the day because you’re outside or at work and rhinitis symptoms begin again in the evening.
This was my experience and one of the reasons I snored every night.
Another identifier of allergic rhinitis is mouth breathing. Breathing through the mouth usually occurs because the nose is congested and people who do this often don’t realize it. I was a mouth breather and suffered from chapped lips and a dry throat (one problem leads to more problems).
Parents should be extra cognizant of how children are breathing.
#3 Chronic Fatigue Because Of Poor Sleep
Looking back at my experience I should have realized my snoring was a result of allergies because I was always exhausted.
I slept alone so I didn’t know if I was snoring. But I’d wake up every morning exhausted – even if I slept 10 hours. Why was this?
My allergic rhinitis was so bad that it made me snore and I was forced to breathe through my mouth. I was never comfortable sleeping and never achieved the deep sleep that was needed to recharge my body. I’d wake up in the morning, my mind feeling foggy, and wanting to go back to sleep.
My snoring caused by my allergic rhinitis was horrible.
Conclusion
Dust mite allergy and snoring are more closely related that many people think. We often write off snoring as something that’s annoying or funny but snoring can be an indicator of a more serious health issue.
I grew up snoring and didn’t realize that it was caused by severe allergies to dust mites. In fact, I didn’t even know what dust mites were.
Unfortunately, it took me until later in life to understand that I had allergic rhinitis that was causing my snoring. I had lived for 20 years without the ability to properly breathe through my nose (the chronic congestion became my normal).
Within a year of being allergy tested and beginning treatment, my allergic rhinitis disappeared along with my snoring. I began to wake up refreshed and feeling good!
If anything, I hope this article provides you with the information and inspiration to be allergy tested and discover the reason for your snoring. Dust mite allergy and snoring can be connected – they were for me.
Thanks for reading and leave a comment if you’ve experienced something similar.