Turbinate Reduction from North Texas Sinus Center: Simple, In-Office Procedures by Dr. Gilmore
Don’t Go Another Day Without Answers for your Nasal Breathing Problems
You can’t breathe out of your nose, and it’s frustrating. Not being able to breathe out of your nose also negatively affects your health.
Stop settling for mouth-breathing when your body was designed to do more. You can decide to stop being embarrassed, uncomfortable, and exhausted from you nasal issues. First, you need to determine the cause, which may be enlarged nasal turbinates.
How Your Turbinates May Be Disabling Your Ability to Breathe Out of Your Nose
Think of your nasal turbinates as balloon-like air ducts. These air ducts, which are located in your nose, help humidify, warm, and filter the air you breathe.
Your turbinates, also referred to as nasal concha, are comprised of bone, vessels, and tissue. They are located in your nasal passages. You likely have three turbinates:
Superior
- Middle
- Inferior
A fourth turbinate, called a supreme turbinate, may be present, and is located above the superior turbinate.
The space between your turbinates is called meati. Your nasal airways are formed by meatus and they guide the airflow in your nose. When the air ducts in your nose (turbinates) are too big for air to flow through your nose, turbinate hypertrophy occurs and your turbinates block air from flowing in and out and stop working properly.
When this happens, reducing the size of your turbinates can bring you instant relief and restore the function of your nasal turbinates.
Why Your Turbinates Expand
Are your turbinates enlarged and you’re not sure what’s causing the issue?
Enlarged nasal turbinates are the result of several disorders and illnesses. They can expand due to any of the following illnesses or conditions:
- Allergies
- Cold
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Nasal Valve Collapse
- Concha Bullosa
- Choanal Atresia
- Auditory tube dysfunction
Every case of enlarged turbinates is unique. However, the goals of patients are the same.
You want to breathe out of your nose without obstruction from nasal turbinates, but you don’t know how. It’s okay, we have the answers you’re looking for. Start with the Cottle Maneuver, which you can perform yourself. Read on below.
The Cottle Maneuver is a do-it-yourself procedure that can help give you information on the source of your congestion. To perform, simply press the tips of your fingers (1-2) gently on each of your cheeks near your nose. Pull outward towards your ears gently. This process, when done correctly, opens your nasal valve.
Now take a deep breath in through your nose. Does your breathing improve?
If the Cottle Maneuver eases your breathing significantly, turbinate reduction procedures may not be your solution to your chronic sinusitis and nasal congestion. To find what will bring you long-lasting sinus pressure relief, schedule an appointment now with Dr. Gilmore from North Texas Sinus Center.
Reduce your turbinates for relief:
your treatment options
Severely dysfunctional turbinates require the attention of an ENT to prevent them from disrupting your breathing and getting in the way of your life.
Your options include:
Turbinate Reduction Procedures
- Radiofrequency Turbinate Reduction (RFTR)
- Smashing
- Removing the inside to collapse the turbinates
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Minimally-invasive turbinate reduction, including RFTR, and smashing or collapsing your oversized turbinates, can be performed in the comfort of our offices or in a surgical center -- it’s up to you.
If you’re tired of not being able to breathe out of nose because of enlarged nasal turbinates, then do something about it. Schedule an appointment today to learn about the treatment options that can bring you relief and allow you to return your life and breathing to normal.
