Why is my nose stuffy?

The nose can be affected from a wide variety of disorders. Rhinitis can be allergic, or non-allergic, and result in nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy nose or eyes and sneezing. Deviated septum is a frequent finding, where the cartilage in the middle of the nose is off-center or twisted. This can block the nasal passages and make it hard to breathe. Turbinate hypertrophy is also very common, and when these structures of the nose are too large, it can be hard to breathe through the nose. Many patients have narrowing of the nasal valve which can be seen externally as a pinching of the bottom third of the nose when you breathe in strongly. Nasal valve collapse can be treated with a simple in-office procedure called Vivaer that uses radiofrequency technology to stiffen and shrink the problem area.

Why does nasal congestion come and go?

When your nasal congestion is due to allergies, the symptoms can come and go based on the allergies around you. This can be “seasonal,” related to triggers such as trees, grass, or weeds, or can be “perennial,” related to year-round triggers such as mold and dust. You may also be affected by changes in the weather or temperature.

When your nasal congestion is from an anatomic obstruction, you might be experiencing the “nasal cycle.” The turbinates are structures in your nose that regulate airflow, filter particles, and humidify the air, and they shrink and swell a few times each day. You may be feeling this nasal cycle as a blockage in your nose that comes and goes every six to eight hours. Some people notice that stuffy nose gets worse when they lie down.

Treatment for the nose

There are many nasal treatments available for you. Nasal endoscopy is a fast procedure that is done awake in the office to help identify the cause of the problem. Some people take numbing medication sprays for the scope, and others undergo a scope without any special preparation.

Topical medication sprays can help control allergy and non-allergy diseases.

Endoscopic, minimally invasive surgery can be used to correct anatomic problems like a deviated septum or inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Septoplasty with inferior turbinate reduction is done at the outpatient surgery center under general anesthesia.

Vivaer is a great treatment for nasal valve collapse that can be done awake in about 30 minutes.

Contact Dr. Feinstein’s office to schedule your consultation.