According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, approximately 45% of adults snore on occasion, and 25% snore chronically. While you may not be bothered by your snoring, your partner is certain to be. Many people are unaware of the root cause of their snoring, but it’s possible that the source is all around you every day: dust.
Is Dust an Allergen?
Having a bedroom full of dust can trigger an allergic reaction, leading to a blocked nose and other symptoms like snoring. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to prevent dust from gathering, since it is usually a mixture of dead skin, pet dander, carpet fibers, etc.
It’s also important to note that allergies aren’t caused by the dust itself, but from the dust mites it attracts. These microscopic arachnids are invisible to the naked eye and feed on dead skin flakes. The waste they produce contains proteins that are a major source of allergy symptoms in humans.
If you have a dust mite allergy, when exposed your immune system releases antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE), which causes your cells to release histamine. Histamine can increase your mucus production and cause swelling, itching and a blocked nose.
Having a Blocked Nose Causes Snoring
There are several ways having a blocked nose can cause you to snore.
- Nasal breathing becomes noisy, causing whistling, popping or rumbling sounds
- A partially blocked nose can create a suction that further narrows the upper airway, producing the typical soft palate snore
- If it becomes impossible to breathe through a blocked nose, switching to mouth-breathing can change the shape of your face, narrow the airway and trigger snoring
Preventing Dust Allergies
Like we said above, you can’t prevent dust from collecting, so the key is to clean thoroughly and frequently. Follow our tips below for making sure your bedroom has minimal dust for maximum sleep quality:
- Vacuum regularly, especially in places you don’t normally. Be sure to move laundry baskets, plants, pet beds, etc. to get in all the nooks and crannies.
- Rearrange furniture, either to redecorate or for easier cleaning. Make sure to clean the areas where furniture has been sitting for months or years, as there is likely a buildup of dust underneath.
- Wash bedding in hot water, ideally once per week. We also recommend investing in allergy-proof bed covers to prevent dust from returning.
- Make sure to periodically wash your curtains too, or replace them with roller blinds.
- Flip your mattress every six months. Again, remember to clean when you do so.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call ENT of Georgia today.
