Let’s Take a Look At Some Common Nose Disorders & Diseases

The nose is the main part of the respiratory system that inhales oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide in addition to functioning as an air passageway for the body.

It also traps tiny particles and pathogens before they reach the lungs, warms the air to body temperature, and significantly adds moisture to the air to avoid dry airways.

When the nose is not functioning properly, it can cause various problems; even common and simple conditions, such as snoring or sinuses, may result in life-threatening conditions when they are overlooked.

At Yashoda Hospital & Research Centre, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, our ENT specialists are trained to the highest standards and updated methods of diagnosis and treatment. They will provide you with the highest quality care.

Identifying diseases of the nose and their causes

Some of the most common diseases of the nose are sinusitis, nasal polyps, hay fever also called allergic rhinitis, and various types of nasal breathing problems. Our specialists have identified some major nasal problems and their causes as follows:

1. Ventilation/Obstruction Disorders

Various deformities like a displaced septum, polyps, enlarged adenoids, nasal conchae or bones, and any other foreign bodies in the nose may cause blockage, obstructing needful ventilation.

These ventilation disorders and obstructed mucus drainage lead to chronic mouth breathing and chronic sinusitis in many patients. In asthma patients, the problem may worsen or sino-bronchial syndrome may develop. When the mucus flow is deviated towards the larynx due to obstructions, this may lead to droplet infection in the lungs which further infects the bronchi, causing pneumonia. The cause of swollen nasal conchae is usually a neurosensory reflex disorder (internally) or allergens that lead to inflammatory swelling of the nasal conchae (externally).

2. Sleep Disorders and Snoring

Obstruction of the upper airway by deformed tissues in the pharynx often causes sleep apnea, a condition wherein breathing either stops or becomes very shallow in sleep. When not diagnosed and treated on time, this can become fatal. Often overlooked, treatment of disorders triggered by snoring is vital since a good night’s sleep is crucial to our overall health and behaviour.

3. Chronic Sinusitis

This refers to inflammation of the mucous membranes in the sinuses which is caused by infection, allergies, or anatomical problems. Chronic sinusitis often reoccurs and may last longer than 12 weeks. Our ENT team provides a range of minimally invasive treatments for allergy-related nasal and paranasal problems, including home doses and immunotherapy injections.

4. Tumours of the Nose and Sinuses

Although tumours in the nose and paranasal sinuses are rare, they may lead to life-threatening conditions, if not treated on time. They are formed when healthy cells turn abnormal due to genetic mutations, with the mutated cells multiplying out of control. When abnormal cells become cancerous, they invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

Signs & Symptoms

The symptoms of nose disorders are quite noticeable. Below are some of the significant signs of nasal and paranasal problems including tumours:

1. Nosebleeds
2. Headache(s)
3. Loud snoring
4. Lump in the neck
5. Vision problems
6. Fatigue and tiredness
7. Loss of sense of smell
8. Facial swelling or pain
9. Sores on the roof of the mouth
10. Watery eyes and inflammation
11. Persistent discharge from the nose
12. Difficulty breathing through the nose and/or dry mouth breathing
13. High susceptibility to infection due to a weakened immune system

Risk factors

Here are some factors that raise a person’s chances of developing diseases of the nose:

1. Smoking
2. Breathing polluted air
3. Infection due to sexually transmitted diseases such as human papillomavirus (HPV)
4. Unmonitored exposure to chemicals and irritants in the air at work such as dust from
the floor, chromium, nickel, wood, and alcohol.

Diagnosis

The ENT specialists will thoroughly examine you and evaluate your medical history to determine the causes of the abnormalities. This will enable us to provide an appropriate prognosis and recommend the best treatment.

There are different methods used to diagnose various nasal and paranasal problems
depending on the symptoms and history of previous illnesses if any, as shown below:

1. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
2. Computed Tomography (CT)
3. Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
4. Clinical Endoscopic Examination
5. Nasal Respiration/Nasal Flow Rhinomanometry
6. X-Ray/CT/NNH/Smell Test
7. Polygraphy for a sleep study

Treatment

Treatment depends on the type of infection and cells involved and in the case of tumours, the location of the tumour matters. In the case of cancerous diseases, our ENT specialists collaborate with concerned oncologists, radiologists, and radiation therapists to develop the best possible treatments for you. These include:

1. Surgery: This aims at removing nasal tumours and can be either open or a minimally invasive type of surgery. In the past, our surgeons removed tumours from the sinuses by making an incision near your nose and mouth. In the latter, our surgeons work on the tumour by using nasal endoscopy and special tools to perform surgery.

2. Chemotherapy: This uses chemicals or drugs to kill cancer cells and is usually combined with
radiation therapy.

3. Radiation therapy:  This uses X-rays and protons to kill cancer cells during and after surgery.

4. Palliative care: This is the personalised care that our specialist team provides, focussing on relieving pain and symptoms in severe cases alongside curative treatments.

Whom to consult?

Our specialists at Yashoda Hospital & Research Centre, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, strive to develop for you the best-individualized treatment based on accurate diagnosis and prognosis.

For the same reason, it is highly recommended that you bring us your medical history or the result of any past diagnosis if you have any.

For any query, please reach out to us on our official website www.yashodahealthcare.com or book an appointment with Dr Nripen Vishnoi.