Nasal congestion is often experienced by many people and sometimes causes discomfort and is even felt to interfere with daily activities and during rest. Nasal congestion can occur intermittently and even permanently, both on one side of the nose, both sides, or alternating blockages.
There are several potential factors that can trigger this nasal congestion complaint, among which the most common is swelling of the nasal turbinates. Other causes that can cause nasal congestion are sinusitis, alcohol consumption, allergic runny nose, common cold, excessive use of decongestant nasal sprays, nasal septum, dry air, swelling of the adenoids, especially spicy foods, foreign bodies in the nose, hormonal influences, nasal polyps , air pollution, pregnancy, stress, smoking, tumors and others. To find out the cause, it is advisable to meet and consult with an Ear, Nose, Throat & Head-Neck Surgery Specialist, to carry out an accurate examination of possible causes and discuss the selection of treatment.
One that is often found to be the cause of nasal congestion is swollen nasal turbinates. This will narrow the nasal air cavities and make breathing shallow until it is completely blocked. Often there are still many people who do not understand the difference between the terms nasal concha and polyps. Konka nasal is a mucous membrane that is found on the edge of the nasal cavity that covers the thin bones. This mucous membrane can swell and sometimes we can observe that if we look in the mirror at the nostrils, it will appear like a round flesh that is reddish in color. The nasal turbinates are actually a normal anatomy or structure in the nose, but sometimes they become swollen and cause symptoms of congestion. Meanwhile, polyps are the growth of new tissue in the nasal cavity due to certain factors, and these polyps are usually whitish or yellowish clear. The plug that is caused by the polyp is often one side of the nose and is felt continuously.
Other complaints that can be caused due to swelling of the turbinates include: shortness of breath or ringing, increased risk of sinusitis, often runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose, sometimes watery and itchy eyes, feeling of congestion after eating, headaches or pain in the base area nose, snoring / snoring, difficulty concentrating, not sleeping well, risk of nosebleeds, risk of sleep apnea or stopping breathing during sleep, disturbed self-confidence due to plugs and frequent carrying of tissues, to depression because it does not go away.
The cause of the nasal concha can swell, among others, it can be influenced by allergic factors, sinusitis, nasal irritation due to air pollution, high levels of stomach acid, consumption of certain drugs, influence of position / gravity, weather influences such as cold air, chemical effects of inhaled substances and irritating, and no less important is the psychological factor.
Through careful examination, it will be able to conclude the cause of the nasal congestion, as well as discuss the selection of treatment. The treatment chosen can be in the form of taking oral medications such as anti-allergic drugs, oral decongestants, even antibiotics if there are signs of a nasal infection such as sinusitis. Other treatments can be in the form of adjuncts, namely washing the nose with sterile istonic saline and steroid nasal sprays. If this treatment option does not achieve optimal results to reduce the size of the nasal turbinates, another alternative can be chosen in the form of a minimally invasive endoscopic surgery procedure to reduce the size of the turbinates more permanently with a radiofrequency (RF) device.
This RF procedure does not require incisions or stitches, often does not require tamping the nose so that you still feel comfortable after the procedure, the risk of bleeding is very minimal, and the success rate for overcoming nasal obstruction is very high, ranging from more than 85%. Another advantage of this action is that sufferers are no longer always dependent on drugs that are taken repeatedly to deal with complaints of nasal congestion. This action can be performed with local or general anesthesia which is more comfortable. The picture beside shows the difference in the size of the nasal conchae before (above) and after (below) the reduction of the turbinates with RF.
Therapy with the action of reducing turbinates with RF is the best alternative therapy at this time to overcome the problem of nasal congestion which has been suffering for quite a long time but has not yet obtained satisfactory results after repeated treatment.
It is important for people with nasal congestion not to hesitate to consult with an ENT-KL specialist to evaluate the causes of nasal congestion and choose the right therapy to treat them.
Article written by dr. Edo Wira Candra, Sp.THTKL, M.Kes., FICS (Ear Nose Throat & Head-Neck Surgery Specialist at EMC Sentul Hospital).