Could you be suffering from Nasal Airway Obstruction?
Nasal airway obstruction is a condition that limits airflow through your nose, making breathing difficult and uncomfortable, and significantly impacting the quality of life.
These are symptoms of Nasal Airway Obstruction 1
- Chronic nasal congestion or stuffiness - the less severely blocked up feeling that accompanies a cold or nasal allergy
- Persistent nasal blockage or obstruction - a more constant blockage that doesn’t seem to be related to a cold, infection, or nasal allergy
- Trouble breathing through your nose/mouth breathing - more severe and persistent breathing difficulty that interferes with normal, daily activity
- Trouble sleeping - your breathing difficulty is accompanied by snoring, disrupted sleep, restlessness, or sleep apnea
- Unable to get enough air through your nose during activities - you feel “starved” or deprived of oxygen while exercising or exerting yourself
What causes Nasal Airway Obstruction?
Millions of people suffer from this problem related to abnormal narrowing of the nasal airway. A triangular area called the “nasal valve” is the narrowest part of your nasal passage and includes three primary structures: the septum, the lateral nasal walls, and the turbinates.
Enlargement of any of these structures decreases the overall space within your nasal passages and reduces airflow.
- The septum is the narrow ridge of bone and tissue between your two nostrils. An enlarged septum can interfere with airflow.
- The lateral nasal walls are the side tissues that form the outer wall of each nostril. A weak lateral wall will collapse as you inhale, preventing adequate airflow.
- The turbinates are finger-shaped tissues in each nasal cavity that channel and warm the air as it enters. Enlargement of the turbinates reduces the area inside your nasal cavities and restricts airflow.
Depending on the precise cause of your airway obstruction, your options can include medications, breathing strips, supportive inserts, minimally invasive techniques like cryotherapy, and invasive surgeries that can be painful and have a long recovery period.
Over-the-counter methods and home remedies like nightly breathing strips, nasal dilators, and sprays are available, but if they work at all, the relief is only temporary. The cause of your obstruction still exists and will continue to cause breathing problems.
Traditional nasal surgery, historically, has been the only long-term treatment for advanced nasal airway problems. These procedures have had mixed results, and they often involve cutting, removal of tissue, considerable discomfort, and prolonged recovery time. While invasive surgery can be effective in certain cases, it does not always address the real cause of the nasal blockage.
Two new treatments are now available to you at Sleep & Sinus Centers of Georgia. Both are minimally invasive procedures done in the office and are used to treat specific issues within the nasal airway.
- VIVAER® Nasal Airway Remodeling by Aerin 2
Dr. David Dillard and his staff are proud to be among the very few ENT specialists in the area to offer these advanced treatments to their patients with nasal airway obstruction.
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