Continue to read to find out why nasal polyps interrupt sleep, as well as the steps you can take to get more z.
How nasal polyps can affect your sleep
Although factors such as stress and anxiety can worsen sleep, the same goes for physical problems, such as nasal polyps. “Any kind of obstructive problems of the upper respiratory tract and the nasal cavity can have a significant impact on your ability to pass from air through the nose,” explains Kibwei McKinney, MD, an Otolaryngologist specializing in rhinology and nasal surgery at SSM Health Medical Group in Oklahoma City.
This can then affect your ability to sleep. Many people with nasal polyps declare that they have insomnia, defined as a difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep or waking up too early.
People with nasal polyps also snore frequently. And snoring can be an indication of something that obstructing your nasal cavity, whether it is a deviated septum or nasal polyps. The more serious the polyps, the more likely they are to cause sleep problems, explains Dr. McKinney.
Strategies to improve your sleep when you have nasal polyps
If the nasal polyps prevent you from having a good night’s sleep, you can take simple steps to improve nasal drainage and reduce the pressure of the sinuses, which can help you get the rest you need:
- Use a salin nasal rinsing before bedtime. “When the nasal polyps are formed, they can hinder the drainage pathways of the sinuses, which causes an accumulation of mucus,” explains McKinney. “The washing of this mucus will release the nasal respiratory tract and allow you to breathe better through your nose.”
- Followed with a nasal steroid spray, if it is prescribed. Steroids can reduce the inflammation and size of the polyp, even more cleaning nasal passages. But if you use a steroid, be sure to spray it After You use a salin rinse. “If you do it otherwise [order]You have just washed all the drugs, ”explains McKinney.
- Raise your head. Whether you use additional pillows or a corner pillow, breed your head can improve nasal drainage and help keep your nasal passages more open.
- Stay up to date on nasal polyp treatments. Keep regular appointments with your oto-rhino-laryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor), so that they can follow the size and number of nasal polyps you have and make sure the treatments work. These may include antibiotics for underlying infections, biologicals to reduce the size of the nasal polyp, allergies to reduce nasal symptoms or surgery to eliminate polyps.
The main thing: if you don’t sleep well, talk to your doctor. Beyond the treatment of nasal polyps, it is also possible to obtain a sleep study to see if other problems, such as AOS, affect your sleep. This can sometimes be treated with surgery or using a continuous machine for pressure from the positive respiratory tract (CPAP) in bed, allowing you to sleep more relaxing.
The point to take away
- Many people with nasal polyps have sleep problems, including snoring and sleep apnea.
- You can spend a better night’s sleep by ensuring that you stick to the treatment of the nasal polyp during the day; Use a salin nasal rinsing, followed by a nasal steroid spray, before bed; And raise your head while you sleep.
- Your doctor can also help you find other causes of sleep problems that can contribute to insufficient sleep and help you find possible solutions.
