When to See a Specialist for Your Nasal Obstruction

The ability to breathe through our noses is something a lot of us take for granted — until it’s gone. Once you have a blockage that prevents nasal breathing, it tends to unlock a host of unwelcome symptoms. 

While these symptoms may be simply annoying at first, they can increasingly interfere with your quality of life. Depending on the length and severity of your nasal issue, you might start to consider seeing a specialist.

When you’re ready to get medical attention, you can come visit one of our New York Institute of Otolaryngology and Aesthetic Surgery offices, conveniently located in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. As a specialist in nasal obstructions, Raj Bhayani, MD, will help you figure out what’s causing your blockage and then target treatment to eliminate it. 

Signs your nasal obstruction needs medical attention

The key sign of a nasal obstruction is difficulty breathing through your nose. That can cause additional issues, like headaches and dry mouth. You might also feel pressure in your face or experience postnasal drip. 

If you’ve only had symptoms like these for a day or two, keep an eye on them. If it’s been a week and your nose isn’t getting better, it’s time to call Dr. Bhayani. 

Even if your symptoms clear up before that, if you regularly deal with sinus issues throughout the year, you could probably benefit from specialized care. 

How to get rid of a nasal obstruction

Your nasal obstruction could come from an underlying but passing issue, like allergies. Or it could be from something more permanent, like a deviated septum or a polyp (benign growth) that develops inside your nose. 

The best way to clear your symptoms is to eliminate the obstruction. So Dr. Bhayani starts by working to figure out what’s behind the blockage. That allows him to tailor treatment to address the issue.

For allergies, for example, he might recommend antihistamines. For a nasal polyp, he may recommend a corticosteroid to attempt to shrink the growth. 

He scales up treatment with the severity of your obstruction. If it comes from inflammation in the tissue of your sinuses, for example, Dr. Bhayani may suggest balloon sinuplasty. Or if you’re dealing with a structural issue, he can help you explore surgery to correct it (e.g., septoplasty for a deviated septum). 

You’re not stuck living with the symptoms of a nasal obstruction. Contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bhayani in either Brooklyn, Queens, or the Bronx today.