NOSE

Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Most sinus infections will go away on their own, but if you experience sinusitis that lasts more than 12 weeks and doesn’t respond to self-care measures, you may have chronic sinusitis. Sinusitis is one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States affecting fifty million Americans, 20% of the nation’s population. It can sometimes be difficult for patients to determine if they are suffering from allergies, an upper respiratory tract infection or a sinus condition. It’s important that you see a doctor for the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Nosebleeds

A nosebleed can happen anytime and as the air gets drier in the winter, they tend to be more frequent. They are most commonly caused by small breaks in the lining of your nose because there are many small vessels that come together in that region of your nose.  The lining here is very thin and any irritation can make things worse but many nosebleeds are random and not from any particular traumatic event.  Other things that can cause nosebleeds are infections and bleeding disorders. If you have nosebleeds that are difficult to stop or very frequent, should see a specialist to determine the source of the bleeding.

Turbinate Reduction

Turbinates are small structures inside the nose that cleanse and humidify the air that passes through the nostrils into the lungs. They can become swollen and inflamed by allergies, irritation or infection, causing nasal obstruction and producing an excessive amount of mucus leading to congestion. Turbinate reduction is an office procedure, performed under local anesthesia that takes about 10 minutes. During the procedure a needle-like instrument is inserted into the turbinate causing controlled damage that when healed causes the turbinates to be reduced, allowing improved airflow through the nose.

Nasal Polyps

Nasal polyps are small growths that occur on the lining of your nose making it more difficult to breathe, causing runny noses and sinus pain, and increasing your risk of sinus infections. They are soft, painless, noncancerous growths that hang down like teardrops or grapes resulting from chronic inflammation and are associated with asthma, recurring infection, allergies, drug sensitivity or certain immune disorders. Small nasal polyps may not cause symptoms. Larger growths or groups of nasal polyps can block your nasal passages or lead to breathing problems, a lost sense of smell and frequent infections. Medications can often shrink or eliminate nasal polyps, but surgery is sometimes needed to remove them. Even after successful treatment, nasal polyps often return.