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Enlarged nasal turbinates
Nasal turbinate hypertrophy: hot compress or cold compress?
Enlarged turbinates can be treated with local heat application. Heat application can shrink the turbinates and relieve the patient's nasal congestion symptoms, while also restoring nasal ventilation. Enlarged turbinates are relatively common in clinical settings, typically caused by symptoms arising from chronic rhinitis and chronic allergic rhinitis. This condition can lead to diffuse congestion, edema, hyperplasia, and enlargement of the bilateral inferior turbinates, resulting in persistent bilateral nasal congestion, along with sensations of a foreign body in the nasal cavity, swelling, and a runny nose. In severe cases, it can lead to a decrease in the sense of smell and memory loss. A detailed examination at a hospital is necessary, and a diagnosis can be confirmed with an electronic nasoscope. Treatment may initially involve nebulized inhalation therapy to shrink the turbinates and relieve nasal congestion, accompanied by local heat application, which has a very definite effect. It is also necessary to enhance immunity and resistance for gradual improvement.
Can you eat eggs if you have enlarged nasal turbinates?
Patients with hypertrophic turbinates can eat eggs; there is no issue with that. Eggs are rich in protein, which can enhance the body's immunity and resistance, offering significant benefits to patients with hypertrophic turbinates. Hypertrophic turbinates are simply a clinical manifestation, commonly caused by chronic rhinitis or chronic allergic rhinitis. Following hypertrophy of the turbinates, patients typically experience persistent bilateral nasal congestion, accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body in the nose, swelling, and mucous nasal discharge. A detailed examination with an endoscope at the hospital can confirm the diagnosis. During the examination, diffuse congestion and edema of the bilateral inferior turbinates can be observed. For treatment, initial steps can include nebulized inhalation therapy to shrink the turbinates and alleviate nasal congestion, along with regular physical exercise to restore the function of the nasal mucosa. If conservative treatment is ineffective, local surgical treatment may be necessary.
Is minimally invasive surgery for enlarged turbinates painful?
Enlarged turbinates are a relatively common clinical manifestation. There are many causes of enlarged turbinates, with the most common being rhinitis, sinusitis, and physiological hypertrophy. In terms of treatment, most patients may consider conservative drug treatment. If the effects of conservative drug treatment are not satisfactory, surgery may be considered. Currently, minimally invasive surgery, such as partial turbinectomy or ablation under nasal endoscopy, is mainly considered. Generally, there will be some pain during the surgery, but the pain is usually not particularly severe and can typically be managed with local anesthesia. Post-surgery, there may be some pain, but most patients can tolerate it. If the pain is particularly severe, oral pain medications can be considered.
The difference between nasal polyps and hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates.
Nasal polyps are neoplasms located in the nose, nasal cavity, or sinus cavity, typically appearing as fully developed, translucent, lychee-like growths that are benign. In contrast, hypertrophy of the nasal concha involves swelling and thickening of the mucous membrane of the concha itself, which may partly demonstrate changes resembling nasal polyps, but it is not identical to nasal polyps. Nasal polyps do not have nervous or vascular supply, whereas the nasal concha does. Clinically, there are different treatments for each; nasal polyps usually require surgical removal, while treatment for hypertrophy of the nasal concha depends on the specific cause. If the hypertrophy is simple, it is often treated with medication; if it is hypertrophic, decisions on surgical intervention may depend on results from CT scans or X-rays.
What should I do about turbinate hypertrophy?
Clinically, turbinate hypertrophy is mainly caused by the stimulation of inflammatory factors such as acute and chronic rhinitis and sinusitis, leading to the proliferation of the turbinate, including the mucosal and even bony growth, as well as congenital developmental factors causing turbinate enlargement. Initially, treatment typically involves medication, using nasal sprays such as corticosteroids for nasal treatment. Secondly, surgical treatment can be employed. We can assess the extent of turbinate hypertrophy with a nasal CT scan to determine if there is bony enlargement. If there is bony hypertrophy, partial resection of the submucosal turbinate bone can be performed. If the hypertrophy is only in the mucosal and soft tissue, it can be treated using plasma ablation. In summary, turbinate hypertrophy can be treated with medication or surgery, depending on the specific extent of the pathology.
What are the symptoms of turbinate hypertrophy?
The symptoms of turbinate hypertrophy vary among individuals. Some patients just have simple turbinate hypertrophy with no obvious clinical symptoms, while others may experience nasal congestion, runny nose, reduced sense of smell, headaches, dizziness, and memory decline. However, generally speaking, most cases are not very severe. It is necessary to visit an otolaryngology department for a nasopharyngoscopy to ascertain the specific extent of the hypertrophy, and to check for any nasal inflammation, sinusitis, or nasal neoplasms. In terms of treatment, most patients primarily receive oral medications and nasal spray treatments. A small number of patients may need to consider surgical treatment. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)
Symptoms and Treatment Methods of Turbinate Hypertrophy
Turbinate hypertrophy, clinically, is mainly hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate, although the middle turbinate can also become enlarged. The hypertrophy of the middle turbinate is primarily related to the development of the turbinate itself. Hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate is more common in clinical practice. Its symptoms mainly manifest as nasal congestion, as the enlarged turbinate blocks the nasal passages. Secondly, turbinate hypertrophy can sometimes irritate the nerves of the local septal mucosal tissue, causing headaches and subsequent symptoms like sinusitis. Clinical treatment for turbinate hypertrophy primarily involves medication, including the use of nasal spray drugs and traditional Chinese medicine. A sinus CT scan can be conducted to evaluate the extent of turbinate bone hypertrophy. If there is bony hypertrophy of the turbinate, surgery under endoscopy might be considered.
Can hypertrophic turbinates be seen with the naked eye?
Enlarged turbinates are a relatively common clinical manifestation and can usually be seen through visual inspection. Generally, the enlargement is primarily of the inferior turbinates. With the use of an anterior rhinoscope to open the nostrils, one can directly observe the extent of inferior turbinate enlargement. This also helps to clarify its relationship with the nasal cavity and aids in the diagnosis of potential rhinitis or sinusitis. In terms of treatment, if the enlargement is simply physiological without significant clinical symptoms, treatment might not be necessary, but regular follow-ups to monitor the condition are advised. If the enlargement is due to an inflammatory reaction, consideration may be given to oral medications and nasal sprays, along with rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
How to reduce swollen nasal turbinates?
Enlarged turbinates are a relatively common clinical symptom, with numerous potential causes. If the enlargement is simply physiological, it generally does not require special treatment. However, if it is due to an inflammatory reaction, such as rhinitis or sinusitis, this can lead to corresponding clinical symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, and reduced sense of smell, necessitating consideration of medication. Common treatments include oral medications and corticosteroid nasal sprays, typically over a treatment cycle of about one to two weeks. Additionally, rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution can be beneficial. With standardized treatment, most cases will gradually decrease in swelling. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor based on specific conditions.)
Can Chinese medicine cure hypertrophic turbinates?
Turbinate hypertrophy includes hypertrophy of the inferior and middle turbinates. Turbinate hypertrophy is mainly caused by chronic inflammation, which is rhinitis. The general treatment mainly involves medication, particularly local medications such as nasal corticosteroids and nasal vasoconstrictors that constrict blood vessels in the nasal mucosa. Traditional Chinese medicine can be somewhat effective, primarily involving aromatic herbs or proprietary Chinese medicines to provide some therapeutic effect; however, these are mostly used as supplementary treatments and should not be the primary medication. Moreover, their use should be under the guidance of a doctor. Additionally, a CT scan is needed for turbinate hypertrophy to assess if there is any bony enlargement of the turbinates; if there is, surgical treatment may need to be considered.