Nasal Obstruction

Nasal obstruction occurs when airflow through the nose becomes blocked, making it difficult to breathe comfortably and potentially affecting sleep, daily activities, and overall quality of life.

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Understanding Nasal Obstruction and Its Causes

You may sometimes have nasal congestion due to a common cold, flu, or seasonal allergies. While this congestion can be uncomfortable, it’s generally not cause for concern in most cases. However, when nasal congestion progresses to complete nasal obstruction, this can interfere with your overall quality of life and requires professional medical intervention by a board-certified ENT physician to address the issue.

What is a Nasal Obstruction?

A nasal obstruction is a blocked nasal passage that results in the sensation of an inability to breathe through your nose. You may frequently refer to this phenomenon as a stuffy nose.

Nasal obstructions occur when you're sick, i.e., when you have a cold or the flu. However, for some people, a nasal obstruction happens due to changes to their nasal anatomy. Common reasons for a nasal obstruction include:

Crooked nasal septum
Enlargement of nasal tissues
Collapse of the nasal valve
Scar tissue

What are the Causes of Nasal Obstruction?

Although the symptoms of a nasal obstruction may be fairly obvious, others can develop them gradually over time. Some nasal obstructions may not cause any issues until they interfere with your daily life.

While nasal obstruction is not a disease or disorder itself, a variety of underlying conditions may lead to its development. This can include:

Infection
Inflammation of the nasal passages due to allergies, a cold, or the flu
Deviated septum
Choanal Atresia, a congenital condition
Sleep apnea
Overuse of alcohol and tobacco
Foreign material inserted into the nasal passages
Polyps
Cancer

What are the Symptoms of a Nasal Obstruction?

In addition to your inability to breathe from one or both nasal passages, you may also experience mouth breathing, especially at night.

If left untreated, this can lead to dry mouth and snoring. Some patients may also develop sleep apnea as they cannot breathe for several seconds at night.

How is a Nasal Obstruction Diagnosed?

Diagnostic testing for a nasal obstruction will likely require several tests based on your health, comprehensive medical history, and current symptoms.

You'll likely expect the following during an appointment with your ENT:

A thorough physical exam of your head and neck that looks for any deformities, observes airflow from each nostril, and examines the internal anatomy of your nose
Fiberoptic nasal endoscopy
Computed tomography (CT) to examine the interior nasal passages.
Blood tests
Allergy testing

Is Treatment for Nasal Obstruction Right for You?

Most cases of nasal obstruction are minor and easily remedied with over-the-counter medications, menthol rubs, and humidifier treatments. However, you may require a visit to the ENT if your nasal obstruction:

Lasts several days
Causes pain
Interferes with your daily activities

Scheduling an appointment with Coastal Ear Nose & Throat can help accurately diagnose and formulate an individualized treatment plan for your nasal obstruction. An acute nasal obstruction, likely caused by a foreign body, will require urgent care or emergency services—please seek immediate medical assistance in this case.

Nasal Obstruction Treatments are Safe When Performed by a Board-Certified ENT Doctor

Treatment for your nasal obstruction will depend on the reason for your nasal obstruction. This can include:

Menthol rubs
Humidifier
Sinus rinses
Medicated nasal sprays
Prescription antibiotics
Oral anti-inflammatory medications
Surgery (as in the case of physical obstructions due to anatomy)

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