4 Common Causes of Nasal Congestion

We all want to be healthy. Of course, healthy breathing is no exception. The way to breathe healthily and properly is to have a nose that fully performs its functions. The nose is the first gateway of our respiratory tract. However, today, one in two people has a temporary or permanent nasal problem that results in nasal obstruction, which blocks airflow. Dr. Betül Şahin, an Otolaryngology Specialist at Acıbadem Bakırköy Hospital, states that people experiencing nasal obstruction usually resort to temporary methods rather than permanently solving this problem, and emphasizes that chronic nasal obstruction can trigger very serious diseases such as chronic heart disease, death risk during sleep apnea, depression, concentration problems and dementia in the advancing process.

Quality of Life Is Possible with Healthy Breathing

For all living organisms that breathe oxygen, adequate respiration is the most critical condition for continued survival. Oxygen deficiency can cause unexpected problems in our mental and physical health. The main gateway of our respiratory tract is our nose. Therefore, any condition that blocks our nose can fundamentally affect our quality of life. Snoring, sleep apnea, chronic heart disease, feeling constantly tired due to insufficient oxygen intake, and having to exert more effort for tasks that could be done with less effort are physical problems, while unhappiness and depression, which concern mental health, can also arise as a result of unhealthy breathing.

There Can Be Many Causes

Providing information about the four most common main causes of nasal obstruction, Otolaryngology Specialist Dr. Betül Şahin emphasizes that many unresolved conditions, from nasal tissue problems to chronic sinusitis, can leave the nose almost completely non-functional:

• Nasal septum deviation (developmental or genetic)
• Nasal tissue problems (turbinate hypertrophy or nasal polyps filling the nasal cavity)
• Chronic sinusitis (chronic sinusitis problems narrowing the nasal passage with chronic discharge)
• Allergic rhinitis (chronic enlargement of nasal tissues due to allergy)

"Temporary Solution" Is Not a Solution

Emphasizing that people generally avoid proper diagnosis or resort to temporary solutions, Şahin states: "Nasal obstruction is actually a condition that becomes familiar and accepted over time. For this reason, people are not very comfortable with the idea of surgery for its permanent solution and tend to continuously postpone these operations. However, chronic nasal obstruction can trigger very serious diseases such as chronic heart disease, death risk during sleep apnea, depression, concentration problems and dementia in the advancing process. Because people ignore breathing problems and waste time looking for other factors underlying such issues, their problems can deepen."

Pay Attention to Sleep Apnea

Someone who notices they are exerting more effort while performing their daily tasks should consult an ENT specialist. However, if snoring is increasing and sleep apnea problems are also occurring, it is absolutely necessary to see a specialist doctor.