Can an ethmoid blockage, cyst in maxillary sinus, large turbinates cause sleep apnea?

Question

I also have enlarged tonsils, which I know can be a part of sleep apnea. A CT Scan found all these other problems--can they be a part of the sleep apnea?

Answer 1

Not really. Classical signs of sleep apnea is: sporadic loud snoring at night, always feeling sleepy during the day, no matter how many hours of sleep a person always feels tired, an obese habitus (i.e. very overweight) and enlarged tonsils. Many many people have blockage in their sinuses and large turbinates but don't have sleep apnea. For example, people with seasonal allergies that develop a sinus infection. In the latter situation, the person breathes through his/her mouth. But, in sleep apnea, there is no breathing at all, which is the defining feature for the disease. If you feel that you might have sleep apnea then you should take a sleep study to confirm it. If you have sleep apnea then you have some options for treatment, including: wearing a face mask at night (i.e. positive airway pressure) or perform surgery to create a breathing hole in the throat.

Answer 2

Probably not, but the tonsils, definitely. You don't breathe though your sinuses.

Sleep apnea is caused by upper airway blockage, but even if your nose is not working right, you should be able to breathe through your mouth when you sleep. If you decide to have surgery for the sleep apnea, your ENT surgeon can fix the other problems at the same time.