Nasal Obstruction

Nasal obstruction is a sense of blockage within the nose or difficulty breathing out of one or both sides of the nose. There are many potential causes for nasal obstruction. Some of the most common causes are nasal allergies, deviation of the nasal septum (the partition in the middle of the nose on the inside), sinus or nasal infection, nasal polyps, foreign bodies, or enlarged turbinates.

Treatment for nasal blockage depends upon what is causing the obstruction, as well as your current medical condition and history. A CT scan (computed tomography) may be necessary to aid in this assessment. It is crucial to arrive at a correct diagnosis of the cause of the obstruction so you can proceed with the most appropriate treatment.

Some conditions may be treatable with medication and/or lifestyle changes, while others may require surgery. Generally speaking, conservative treatments are attempted first, and surgery is used only when conservative measures have failed. With any treatment, it is important to try to preserve the normal mucous lining in your nose because this is vital to healthy nasal/sinus function.

If you do need to have surgery, it is critical that you have a CT scan of your nose and sinuses beforehand, since this anatomy varies somewhat from person to person. A CT scan before your procedure can help our specialists operate with a more accurate picture of your anatomy and help avoid mistakes. It is usually performed as a routine step before surgery.