‘I Thought Snoring Was Normal’: How A Common Symptom In An 18-Year-Old Turned Out To Be A Dangerous Nasal Condition | Lifestyle News

Last Updated:January 30, 2026, 08:00 IST

An 18-year-old’s long-standing snoring and nasal congestion were brushed off as allergies, until the doctor revealed a nasal condition hiding behind everyday symptoms.

Snoring and a runny nose led an 18-year-old to years of treatment before a diagnosis of nasal polyps. (Image-AI)

What began as harmless snoring and a persistently runny nose slowly revealed a hidden condition, showing how easily everyday symptoms masked a medical issue for years.

When Snoring Is Mistaken For Normal

Snoring is rarely treated as a warning sign; it is joked about in many households and dismissed when paired with a runny or blocked nose. For many, these symptoms are blamed on pollution, allergies, stress or changing seasons. Over time, these minor adjustments become a way of life.

What often goes unnoticed in the process is compensating for an obstruction which is not temporary at all. Nasal polyps often grow in this silence, masked by symptoms so common that they fail to raise alarm, until breathing, sleep, and quality of life are negatively affected.

For Aarushi (name changed for anonymity), an 18-year-old CBSE school student, snoring never appeared to be a medical problem. For years, she experienced a blocked, stuffy, and frequently runny nose, symptoms that blended so well into everyday life.

“I don’t remember a time when my nose felt completely clear,” she said. “It was always blocked or running, so it felt normal to live with it.”

Before proper diagnosis, she also explored alternative treatments. “I was on medication for quite some time for my runny nose,” she said. “I had Ayurvedic medicines and homoeopathic treatment too.”

Years Of Adaptation

Chronic nasal discomfort has a way of shaping expectations. When breathing through the nose becomes difficult over long periods, many individuals unconsciously adapt by breathing through the mouth, sleeping poorly, or accepting frequent fatigue as normal.

Over time, it becomes difficult to distinguish between discomfort and baseline health.

Aarushi believed snoring was simply an accompanying symptom. “I thought snoring was normal, which came as a complementary symptom with my runny nose,” she explained.

“For the longest time, I believed it was something many people experience. It didn’t seem serious enough to think there could be an underlying condition.”

This assumption is common. Nasal polyps often develop gradually and painlessly, making them easy to overlook until they significantly obstruct airflow.

Managing Symptoms, Not Causes

Like many individuals with chronic nasal issues, Aarushi’s treatment focused on managing flare-ups rather than identifying the cause. She relied on repeated courses of medication, assuming temporary relief was the expected outcome.

“I kept taking medicines whenever it got worse,” she explained. “The relief was temporary, but I assumed that’s how it was supposed to be.”

Why Nasal Polyps Are Easy To Miss

Nasal polyps are soft, noncancerous growths that develop in the lining of the nose or sinuses. They arise from chronically inflamed mucosal tissue and usually form on both sides of the nasal cavity. Small polyps may cause no noticeable symptoms, while larger ones can obstruct airflow.

In appearance, small polyps are teardrop-shaped. As they grow, they resemble peeled grapes and may appear pink, yellow, or grey. Their painless nature often leads to delayed suspicion. Aarushi acknowledged this; “There was no sharp discomfort, so I didn’t think something could be growing inside my nose,” she said.

Snoring As A Clue?

As nasal polyps enlarge, they narrow the nasal passages, making airflow restricted. This obstruction becomes more pronounced during sleep, when throat muscles relax, leading to snoring and fragmented sleep. In some cases, polyps can contribute to sleep apnea or other sleep-related breathing disorders.

Over time, Aarushi began noticing the effects on her daily life. “I would wake up feeling tired even after sleeping for hours,” she said. “But I never connected that to my breathing problems.”

What Studies Say

According to a study published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in May 2025, nasal polyps are benign, inflammatory outgrowths of the sinonasal mucosa that significantly impair quality of life. The study notes that these lesions are most often associated with chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal and sinus inflammation lasting longer than 12 weeks.

The NIH research explains that nasal polyps are multifactorial in origin, and identified risk factors include asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinus infections, hypersensitivity to certain NSAIDs, and genetic predisposition.

The study emphasises that careful history-taking and physical examination are essential in distinguishing nasal polyps from other nasal masses.

Diagnosis Of Nasal Polyps

Diagnosis for polyps is typically supported by nasal endoscopy and imaging, most commonly CT scans to assess the situation. For Aarushi, the diagnosis was unexpected. “When the doctor explained it was a nasal polyp, I was shocked,” she said. “I had never heard of it as something that could cause snoring.”

Her age also played a role in delayed awareness. “I didn’t think something like this could happen at my age; health issues were not really on my mind.”

In hindsight, Aarushi feels the signs were always present. “If I had known snoring and constant congestion weren’t normal, I would have asked more questions earlier,” she said.

Her experience reflects a broader pattern in healthcare, where persistent but familiar symptoms are normalised until they significantly disrupt daily life. Medical professionals advise seeking evaluation when nasal symptoms last more than 10 days, recur frequently, or are accompanied by snoring, facial pressure, or loss of smell.

What appears ordinary can sometimes conceal a complex condition. Nasal polyps highlight how quietly chronic inflammation can reshape everyday life, and how recognising subtle signs early can prevent years of discomfort and delayed care.

Snoring is rarely treated as a warning sign; it is joked about in many households and dismissed when paired with a runny or blocked nose. For many, these symptoms are blamed on pollution, allergies, stress or changing seasons. Over time, these minor adjustments become a way of life.

What often goes unnoticed in the process is compensating for an obstruction which is not temporary at all. Nasal polyps often grow in this silence, masked by symptoms so common that they fail to raise alarm, until breathing, sleep, and quality of life are negatively affected.

For Aarushi (name changed for anonymity), an 18-year-old CBSE school student, snoring never appeared to be a medical problem. For years, she experienced a blocked, stuffy, and frequently runny nose, symptoms that blended so well into everyday life.

“I don’t remember a time when my nose felt completely clear,” she said. “It was always blocked or running, so it felt normal to live with it.”

Before proper diagnosis, she also explored alternative treatments. “I was on medication for quite some time for my runny nose,” she said. “I had Ayurvedic medicines and homoeopathic treatment too.”

Years Of Adaptation

Chronic nasal discomfort has a way of shaping expectations. When breathing through the nose becomes difficult over long periods, many individuals unconsciously adapt by breathing through the mouth, sleeping poorly, or accepting frequent fatigue as normal.

Over time, it becomes difficult to distinguish between discomfort and baseline health.
Aarushi believed snoring was simply an accompanying symptom. “I thought snoring was normal, which came as a complementary symptom with my runny nose,” she explained.

“For the longest time, I believed it was something many people experience. It didn’t seem serious enough to think there could be an underlying condition.”
This assumption is common. Nasal polyps often develop gradually and painlessly, making them easy to overlook until they significantly obstruct airflow.

Managing Symptoms, Not Causes

Like many individuals with chronic nasal issues, Aarushi’s treatment focused on managing flare-ups rather than identifying the cause. She relied on repeated courses of medication, assuming temporary relief was the expected outcome.

“I kept taking medicines whenever it got worse,” she explained. “The relief was temporary, but I assumed that’s how it was supposed to be.”

Why Nasal Polyps Are Easy To Miss

Nasal polyps are soft, noncancerous growths that develop in the lining of the nose or sinuses. They arise from chronically inflamed mucosal tissue and usually form on both sides of the nasal cavity. Small polyps may cause no noticeable symptoms, while larger ones can obstruct airflow.

In appearance, small polyps are teardrop-shaped. As they grow, they resemble peeled grapes and may appear pink, yellow, or grey. Their painless nature often leads to delayed suspicion. Aarushi acknowledged this; “There was no sharp discomfort, so I didn’t think something could be growing inside my nose,” she said.

Snoring As A Clue?

As nasal polyps enlarge, they narrow the nasal passages, making airflow restricted. This obstruction becomes more pronounced during sleep, when throat muscles relax, leading to snoring and fragmented sleep. In some cases, polyps can contribute to sleep apnea or other sleep-related breathing disorders.

Over time, Aarushi began noticing the effects on her daily life. “I would wake up feeling tired even after sleeping for hours,” she said. “But I never connected that to my breathing problems.”

What Studies Say

According to a study published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in May 2025, nasal polyps are benign, inflammatory outgrowths of the sinonasal mucosa that significantly impair quality of life. The study notes that these lesions are most often associated with chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal and sinus inflammation lasting longer than 12 weeks.

The NIH research explains that nasal polyps are multifactorial in origin, and identified risk factors include asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinus infections, hypersensitivity to certain NSAIDs, and genetic predisposition.

The study emphasises that careful history-taking and physical examination are essential in distinguishing nasal polyps from other nasal masses.

Diagnosis Of Nasal Polyps

Diagnosis for polyps is typically supported by nasal endoscopy and imaging, most commonly CT scans to assess the situation. For Aarushi, the diagnosis was unexpected. “When the doctor explained it was a nasal polyp, I was shocked,” she said. “I had never heard of it as something that could cause snoring.”

Her age also played a role in delayed awareness. “I didn’t think something like this could happen at my age; health issues were not really on my mind.”

In hindsight, Aarushi feels the signs were always present. “If I had known snoring and constant congestion weren’t normal, I would have asked more questions earlier,” she said.

Her experience reflects a broader pattern in healthcare, where persistent but familiar symptoms are normalised until they significantly disrupt daily life. Medical professionals advise seeking evaluation when nasal symptoms last more than 10 days, recur frequently, or are accompanied by snoring, facial pressure, or loss of smell.

What appears ordinary can sometimes conceal a complex condition. Nasal polyps highlight how quietly chronic inflammation can reshape everyday life, and how recognising subtle signs early can prevent years of discomfort and delayed care.

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