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Large turbinates: causes, symptoms and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Nasal turbinates is the structure that is located on the side walls of your nostrils. These turbinates are made up of a large number of vascular and nervous components, which directly intervene in the functions of your nose such as humidification, filtration, heating, secretion, sensor and conductor of the air that is inspired.

Generally, you can have three turbinates, although it is possible to reach five, and they have a very rich and abundant blood supply, which makes them very sensitive to any type of temperature change. However, there are different pathologies of them and, this time, at FastlyHealwe want you to know everything about large turbinates: causes, symptoms and treatment .

Causes of having large bugles

An exaggerated enlargement of the nasal turbinates is called turbinate hypertrophy . If you have this condition, it can be due to numerous circumstances, although, mainly, this disorder appears due to allergic processes , for example, if you suffer from allergic rhinitis.

However, among the causes of large turbinates are also hormonal alterations , such as in puberty or pregnancy, tobacco , alcohol or if you suffer from both acute and chronic sinusitis. It is also possible that you develop it as a compensation for a septal deviation or if you take various medications such as antidepressants, sildenafil, among others.

Most common symptoms of large turbinates

The main symptoms that you can perceive if you suffer from turbinate hypertrophy are:

  • You breathe through your mouth.
  • Hoarse or have constant aphonia.
  • You have a sore throat.
  • Frequent migraines
  • Irritating cough
  • Physical tiredness.

Although the symptoms of this disorder are usually associated with bad habits, if you are one of the people with this condition you should know that it is not possible for you to free yourself from these no matter how hard you try. This is why it is advisable to see a doctor if you know or suspect you have turbinate hypertrophy.

Treatment

When the presence of large turbinates is due to having an allergy, it is possible that the treatment they give you is limited to eradicating the cause that caused it , with a small treatment of drugs that the specialist will recommend when the consultation is made.

Surgery

However, as in most cases of turbinate hypertrophy, you may need to have surgery. This is performed under general anesthesia or with local anesthesia and sedation, the process taking between 30 and 60 minutes approximately. The operation is performed on the inside of your nose and does not leave any type of visible scar and, generally, it is necessary that the process be performed in a single nostril and not in both. The recovery is fast and during episodes may experience loss of smell or excessive tearing, which usually returns to normal after a short time period.

To be

Currently, you can also undergo a diode laser treatment to remove large turbinates. This is done quickly and easily, for this you start with the intake of an anti-inflammatory the night before the procedure or the same morning, then, use a few drops of oxymetazoline a few minutes before the operation, which is performed under local anesthesia. The procedure lasts approximately 10 minutes, in which your existing tissue in the turbinates is dehydrated to reduce their volume .

Other therapies

Finally, there are alternative therapies or traditional Chinese medicine, which, although it cannot eliminate large turbinates, can greatly help reduce symptoms.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Large turbinates: causes, symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Lung and respiratory tract category .

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