QUESTION 1: I have nasal congestion for a long time, what are the causes?

ANSWER:  If nasal congestion is long-lasting, there is either an anatomical cause affecting the cartilage and bone structure, or there is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes edema of the soft tissues in the nose.

Septum deviations (curvature of the cartilage-bone wall separating the two nasal passages), nasal valve problems (structural disorders-insufficiency of the cartilage forming the roof of the nose), turbinate hypertrophies (nasal meatus sizes) can be counted among the anatomical causes. Nasal polyps, allergic nasal diseases, and chronic sinusitis are the most common inflammatory diseases.

The treatment of anatomical obstructions is surgical, while drug treatments and surgical treatments are applied in inflammatory diseases. If nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis do not respond to drug therapy, surgical treatment should be considered.

Space-occupying masses and tumors in the nose should be considered in the differential diagnosis as a cause of long-term obstruction.

If you have long-term nasal congestion, an ear, nose and throat examination is a must.

 

QUESTION 2: What kind of complaints does “allergic rhinitis” (allergic rhinitis) cause?

ANSWER: Sneezing attacks, runny nose, nasal congestion, itching in the nose and nasal passages are the main symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Nasal discharge is usually clear and sticky. Allergic rhinitis can be seasonal or continuous. The treatment is arranged by considering the findings of the examination and the severity of the patient's complaints.

 

QUESTION 3: My nose is bleeding very often, what should I do?

ANSWER:  Hypertension, use of drugs that prevent coagulation, diseases that predispose to bleeding should be questioned. The otolaryngologist should perform a detailed endoscopic examination, foci and diseases that may cause bleeding in the nose should be investigated.

 

QUESTION 4: What are the polyps on my nose, would you recommend surgery for the treatment?

ANSWER:  Polyp is an abnormal response of the tissue called mucosa lining the nose to any external factor. Generally, when the nasal polyp is mentioned, a disease called "nasal polyposis" is understood. In nasal polyposis, sinus and nasal mucosa as a result of a genetic predisposition; It is sensitive to infections, fungal colonization, traumas and similar factors. This sensitivity causes excessive edematous flesh growths, which we call polyps, in the mucosa. Both nasal passages are occupied by polyps. 

Not all nasal polyps are nasal polyposis; Unilateral “antrochoanal polyps” can be seen especially at younger ages. Unilateral nasal polyps can be a part of neoplastic (tumoral) diseases. Even though polyps called "inverted papilloma", which we encounter unilaterally, are benign tumors, they should be treated carefully because of their high recurrence rate and cancerous potential.

Polyps cause complaints such as nasal congestion, olfactory disorders, runny nose, facial fullness-pain. Detailed ENT examination and radiological examinations are absolutely necessary. Unilateral polyps almost always require surgery. This surgery provides both the reduction of the patient's complaints by removing the polyp and the collection of a sample for pathological examination. If the condition we want to treat is "nasal polyposis", there are different approaches among ENT doctors. One group of physicians adopts direct surgery followed by drug therapy, while another group follows the patients with drug therapy and performs surgery if necessary. Personally, I depend on the treatment in nasal polyposis, the size of the polyps, the severity of the patient's complaints,

 

QUESTION 5: How to understand whether there is sinusitis?

ANSWER:  Complaints such as headache, postnasal drip, cough, facial fullness-pain, nasal congestion usually suggest sinusitis, but these complaints must be supported by physical examination findings or radiological examinations for a definitive diagnosis.

  

QUESTION 6: When do you recommend surgery for sinusitis?

ANSWER:  If the signs and symptoms of sinusitis are present for a long time, the disease is considered to be chronic. Surgery may be considered in chronic sinusitis unresponsive to treatment. In addition, if there are anatomical disorders that predispose to the development of sinusitis, surgical interventions for these disorders are beneficial.

Rarely, sinusitis; It may spread to neighboring tissues such as the eye, brain, and in such a case, emergency surgery may be necessary.  

 

QUESTION 7: I constantly use nasal spray for my nasal congestion; will it harm me?

ANSWER:  Absolutely. Nasal opening sprays begin to damage the nasal mucosa after 5-7 days. If you need constant spray, you must have an ENT examination, the problem is permanent treatment for the cause of nasal congestion.

 

QUESTION 8: I want to have aesthetic nose surgery, I have nasal congestion, can I have both surgeries at the same time?

ANSWER: We strongly recommend that you have both surgeries at the same time. In aesthetic nose surgery, pieces of the septum cartilage in your nose are usually taken in order to shape your nose. If you have septum deviation, that is, cartilage curvature causing obstruction; Excess cartilages taken to correct this curvature can be easily used in aesthetic interventions.