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Nasal Obstruction

Nasal Obstruction

A nasal obstruction is usually the result of restricted airflow in and out of the nose affecting one or both nasal passages.

What are the Symptoms of a Nasal Obstruction?

The most common symptoms for nasal obstruction include:

    • Nasal congestion or stuffiness
    • Nasal blockage or obstruction
    • Trouble breathing through your nose
    • Trouble sleeping
  • Inability to get enough air through your nose during exercise or exertion

What Causes a Nasal Obstruction?

There are many different causes for a nasal obstruction, including medical conditions such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever), non-allergic rhinitis (or vasomotor rhinitis), sinusitis (sinus infections), environmental irritants (e.g., smoke or dust), a cold or flu, and certain medications (e.g., high blood pressure medication).  For some patients, allergies lead to swelling of the nasal and sinus lining, which causes congestion and blockage.

For other patients, the blockage may be due to a simple anatomical obstruction, such as a deviated septum, enlarged inferior turbinates or narrow nasal passages, nasal polyps, nasal valve collapse, and enlarged adenoids. Often patients with narrow nasal passages have problems with the nasal septum and turbinates.

How Do You Diagnose a Nasal Obstruction?

At CT Sinus Center, your ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor will conduct a detailed patient history with physical examination, including a look at your nasal cavity with a 4mm lighted endoscope.  Additional testing, such as allergy testing, a CT scan or an MRI, may also be ordered to confirm the diagnosis of the nasal obstruction.

How Do You Treat a Nasal Obstruction?

As you await confirmation on diagnosis, it is important to get your symptoms under control.  Your doctor may, therefore, recommend that you use a nasal steroid spray to help reduce inflammation of your nose and turbinates to provide immediate, short-term relief.

Long-term solutions, however,  may require surgical intervention, especially for a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates or nasal polyps.  Many newer surgical techniques are now available and can be done in the office, giving the patient the added benefit of a shorter recovery time and return to normal activities within a few days. 

At CT Sinus Center we specialize in all treatments of nasal obstruction, including: