TURBINATE HYPERTROPHY
What is Turbinate Hypertrophy?
Turbinate hypertrophy is a condition characterized by the abnormal growth or expansion of the turbinates, bony formations found inside the nostrils. These structures are enveloped in a unique type of skin known as mucosa, which aids in filtering, warming, and moistening the air during inhalation. The mucosa naturally expands during a normal nasal cycle and when an individual lies down. It also swells in reaction to allergens and other triggers. Three sets of turbinates typically line each side of the nasal cavity: the superior, middle, and inferior turbinates. The majority of the nasal airflow goes through the middle and inferior turbinates. If these turbinates become overly enlarged, it can hinder the ease of breathing.
What Are the Symptoms of Turbinate Hypertrophy?
Turbinate hypertrophy is often indicated by several typical symptoms, which include:
- Challenges in breathing
- Alternating nasal congestion on either side of the nose
- A sensation of stuffiness in the nose
- Blockage in the nasal passage
- Experiencing nasal congestion when lying down
- Loud breathing or resorting to mouth-breathing while sleeping
- Enhanced nasal discharge
What Causes Turbinate Hypertrophy?
Turbinate hypertrophy typically occurs when the skin lining that covers the turbinate bone inflates and swells. This can be a one-time (acute) or persistent (chronic) issue, prompted by several conditions such as:
- An upper respiratory infection or the common cold
- An acute sinus infection
- Allergic rhinitis
- Non-allergic rhinitis
- Chronic rhinosinusitis
- Certain medications
- Hormonal fluctuations
Other associated factors or conditions like a deviated septum, nasal valve collapse, external nasal deformity, or any other type of sinus disease can also lead to nasal blockage.
What Are the Treatment Options?
The treatment for turbinate hypertrophy hinges on its specific cause. Initially, it’s pivotal to discuss your symptoms with your primary healthcare provider or a specialist in ear, nose, and throat (ENT), also known as an otolaryngologist. They will undertake a nose examination and might suggest supplementary tests like allergy testing or X-rays, aligned with your unique diagnosis. Medical Therapy – Medications are frequently recommended to alleviate symptoms. Depending upon the specific reason behind the turbinate hypertrophy, potential medications might include:
- Nasal saline sprays or rinses
- Nasal antihistamine sprays
- Nasal steroid sprays
- Allergy immunotherapy
For an acute instance of turbinate hypertrophy, nasal decongestant sprays (like Oxymetazoline) should be used for a very short duration. This is not a suitable treatment for chronic turbinate hypertrophy. Utilizing nasal decongestant sprays for more than three days can lead to additional swelling in the nasal cavity, exacerbating symptoms, and fostering dependency with extended use. Surgery – If medications fail to improve your symptoms, your ENT specialist might propose a surgical procedure to reduce the turbinates’ size. Typically, this procedure is conducted through the nostrils without causing bruising or visible signs of surgery. The objective of surgery is to reduce the turbinate size to enhance nasal airflow while preserving the turbinate’s function. There are various surgical procedures to decrease the turbinates’ size, and the choice will depend on your unique diagnosis, the severity of the turbinate hypertrophy, and your ENT specialist’s advice. Many of these procedures can be done in the office using specialized devices that can reduce the turbinates’ size while keeping the special skin (mucosa) intact. Surgery can usually be performed under local or general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure, and may be combined with other procedures to reduce nasal obstruction. A common associated procedure is septoplasty, which addresses a deviated septum.