Turbinates are bony structures inside your nose that act as radiators by adding warm, moist heat to the air we breath. There are three pairs of turbinates: inferior turbinates, middle turbinates and superior turbinates.
Sometimes the inferior turbinates can become enlarged, known as turbinate hypertrophy and block breathing, making you feel congested.
Some key symptoms of turbinate hypertrophy would be prolonged nasal congestion and an inability to breathe through the nose. Symptoms can range depending on how severe the obstruction is, but the most common symptoms include:
Allergy or irritant-related turbinate hypertrophy usually responds well to medical treatment. In treating the underlying cause, the turbinates’ swelling is often reduced. Unfortunately, long-term chronic swelling can become irreversible and unresponsive to typical medical treatments. In these cases, turbinate reduction surgery may be required to help reduce the symptoms.
To learn if you are suffering from turbinate hypertrophy, it is important to visit your DFW Sinus Select Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist so you can be properly diagnosed, and you can receive information on the treatment.
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