Nasal Congestion
What causes nasal congestion?
Nasal congestion makes it difficult to breathe, smell, exercise, and sleep. When your nose is congested, it means that the tissues and blood vessels throughout the nasal passages have become swollen with excess fluids. There are many possible causes of nasal congestion, including:
Rhinitis
Rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the inside of your nose. The most frequent cause of rhinitis — and the top cause of nasal congestion — is the common cold. Rhinitis can also develop due to seasonal allergies or the addiction to nasal decongestant sprays.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis occurs when the membranes lining your sinuses become inflamed, mucus gets trapped inside the sinus, and an infection develops. Allergies that are not controlled or polyps can cause sinusitis.
Nasal polyps
These noncancerous growths appear in your nasal passages, where they can get large enough to cause nasal congestion and can also lead to sinus infections.
Deviated septum
The piece of cartilage and bone separating your two nostrils, called the septum, can be so crooked or off-center that it leads to nasal congestion.
What additional symptoms develop with nasal congestion?
While you may have nothing but nasal congestion, it often comes together with other symptoms. Depending on the underlying cause, you may experience:
Runny nose
Thick nasal discharge
Itchy nose
Sneezing
Post-nasal drip
Headache
Low-grade fever
Facial pain or pressure
Sore throat
Dry mouth
How is nasal congestion treated?
The doctors at Beach Cities ENTS customize your treatment based on the cause of your nasal congestion. Rhinitis that arises from a common cold needs to run its course because it’s a viral infection.
In the meantime, you can treat your symptoms with different nasal sprays. Should you develop a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
If your Beach Cities ENTS doctor suspects allergies are at the root of your nasal congestion, they can be treated with avoidance of what you are allergic to or medications that are over the counter or prescription. You may also need to undergo allergy testing. Some patients with long standing allergy symptoms may be a good candidate for immunotherapy, depending on the severity and frequency of your symptoms.
Patients with structural abnormalities such as polyps or a deviated septum may need surgery to correct the problem. The following are a few examples of minimally invasive procedures performed by the doctors at Beach Cities ENTS.
Septoplasty
Septoplasty is surgery to straighten a deviated septum, allowing air to flow freely through your nose.
Polypectomy
This is an endoscopic procedure to remove polyps from inside your nose.
Balloon sinuplasty
During balloon sinuplasty, your doctor at Beach Cities ENTS uses a narrow wire to pass into a clogged sinus and inflate a balloon to open the blocked passage and the wire and balloon are removed.
Nasal valve implant
If the collapse of the cartilage supporting the airway causes your congestion, your doctor can insert a nasal valve implant to support the cartilage and keep the airway open.
To get relief from nasal congestion, call Beach Cities ENTS or schedule an appointment online.