Nasal Obstruction Specialist

What is nasal obstruction?

Nasal obstruction is a widespread problem where you have difficulty breathing through your nose. As a result, you're forced to inhale through your mouth, which can lead to a sore throat and dry mouth.

Nasal obstruction symptoms are often worse at night or when you're lying down, making it difficult to enjoy a good night's sleep.

You could have nasal obstruction for a number of reasons. Allergies and conditions like sinusitis trigger inflammation that can cause nasal obstruction, or you might have narrow nasal passages. A deviated septum or large turbinates often cause this narrowing.

How do nasal structures cause nasal obstruction?

Your nasal septum is a structure consisting of bone and cartilage that separates your nasal passages. If you have a deviated septum, it means there’s a misalignment that’s causing a blockage in one or both nasal passages.

Turbinates are near your septum, on the side walls inside your nose. They consist of soft tissue and bone that form ridges inside your nasal passages. Turbinates help to moisturize and warm the air when you breathe in.

There are several turbinates in your nose, but the ones that most often cause nasal obstruction are the inferior turbinates. They sometimes swell and block the space that normally exists between them and your septum.

How is nasal obstruction treated?

If you have a problem like chronic sinusitis or allergic rhinitis, the Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. team can relieve nasal obstruction by treating these conditions.

Allergy treatments include antihistamines and steroids, and long term, a course of immunotherapy. If you have nonallergic rhinitis, ClariFix® cryotherapy treatment can help.

Chronic sinusitis treatments include decongestant medication, antihistamines, and steroid sprays. You might need antibiotics if you have an infection. Minimally invasive balloon sinuplasty or functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) might be necessary for persistent sinusitis.

If your nasal obstruction is due to a deviated septum or large turbinates, you might require septoplasty or turbinate surgery.

How do septoplasty and turbinate surgery help with nasal obstruction?

Septoplasty is surgery to straighten a deviated septum. To perform septoplasty, your surgeon at Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. lifts the tissue lining your septum off the cartilage and bone. They then straighten and reshape the septum before replacing the lining.

To treat turbinates, methods like cauterization, coblation, and radiofrequency ablation (VivAer®) shrink the turbinates using an application of heat rather than removing tissue surgically.

Alternatively, your surgeon might use a method like submucosal resection to remove tissue from the turbinates.

If you're struggling to breathe through your nose because of nasal obstruction, call Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. today or book an appointment online.