Can you eat chili peppers with enlarged turbinates?

Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
Updated on January 12, 2025
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People with enlarged nasal turbinates should avoid eating spicy peppers, as they are considered irritants. Consumption of spicy peppers can worsen the enlargement of nasal turbinates, leading to persistent nasal congestion. For enlarged nasal turbinates, it is necessary to visit a hospital and undergo examination with an electronic nasoscope to determine the cause. Generally, this condition is caused by chronic rhinitis or chronic allergic rhinitis. Enlargement of the nasal turbinates typically leads to symptoms such as persistent and progressive bilateral nasal congestion, swelling sensation in the nasal cavity, foreign body sensation, facial swelling, pain, headache, and the discharge of abnormal mucous secretions from the nasal cavity. In terms of treatment, initial management of enlarged nasal turbinates can involve the use of nebulized inhalation to shrink the turbinates and relieve nasal congestion. Regular physical exercise can also help restore the function of the nasal mucosa. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical removal of parts of the lower turbinates on both sides may be required to completely cure the condition.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Is correction of nasal turbinate hypertrophy a surgical procedure?

Enlarged turbinates are a common clinical sign, primarily caused by chronic inflammation in the nose and deviations in the nasal septum. Clinically, surgeries targeted at correcting enlarged turbinates are primarily conducted. Main approaches include: One method is the fracturing and outward movement of the turbinate bone; another is the excision of the submucosal part of the enlarged turbinate. Other treatments, such as plasma ablation therapy for the turbinates, are also viable. The specific treatment method should be chosen based on a facial examination, observations of the specific condition of the enlarged turbinates, as well as assessments from sinus CT scans and conditions of the turbinate bones.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Is the recurrence rate of nasal turbinate hypertrophy high?

The recurrence rate of turbinate hypertrophy is relatively high, and there are various causes for it, with most cases resulting from chronic rhinitis or sinusitis. After timely medical treatment, many patients' turbinate enlargement will be alleviated, and clinical symptoms will improve. However, the condition may recur after inflammation flares up again. For those with severe enlargement, if standard medical treatment is ineffective, some patients may consider undergoing turbinate reduction surgery. After surgery, regular follow-up examinations are necessary to monitor the effects of the operation. Nonetheless, some patients might still experience a recurrence of the condition after surgery. (Please use medication under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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Can hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates be reduced by taking anti-inflammatory drugs?

Whether taking anti-inflammatory drugs is needed for enlarged turbinates depends first on identifying the cause of the enlargement. If the enlargement of the turbinates is caused by bacterial infection, it is appropriate to take anti-inflammatory medication such as antibiotics. However, if it is caused by allergies, antibiotics will be ineffective. Generally, there are two reasons for enlarged turbinates. The first is due to symptoms caused by acute inflammatory infections, commonly seen in clinical cases of acute rhinitis or acute sinusitis. Clinically, these are most often caused by infections from hemolytic streptococci or Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in congested, swollen, and hypertrophic mucous membranes of the turbinates. Antibiotics such as penicillin or cephalosporin can be effective in treatment. However, antibiotics are ineffective for allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis occurs when the immune and resistance levels are low, and the nasal cavity comes into contact with related allergens. Patients will also experience enlarged turbinates, along with symptoms like sneezing and runny nose. Treatment should focus on symptomatic allergy treatment to shrink the turbinates and alleviate nasal congestion.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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Does hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates cause the appearance of the nose to enlarge?

Prolonged stimulation of turbinates hypertrophy can cause patients to experience widening and thickening of the nostrils, also affecting the appearance of the nose. Clinically, this is referred to as "frog nose." Turbinates hypertrophy commonly stems from prolonged chronic inflammation and episodes of allergic rhinitis, leading to bilateral congestion, swelling, hyperplasia, and enlargement of the inferior and middle turbinates. Patients will experience persistent nasal congestion bilaterally, accompanied by a foreign body sensation and swelling in the nasal cavity. Changes in the shape and appearance of the nose also occur, necessitating a detailed examination at a hospital. Diagnosis can be confirmed with an endoscopic examination and sinus CT scan. In terms of treatment, acute turbinates hypertrophy may be treated with antibiotics, along with nebulized inhalation therapy. If conservative treatment is ineffective, partial resection of the bilateral inferior turbinates may be necessary.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Does turbinate hypertrophy require surgery?

In clinical practice, hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates must be differentiated by various causes. If the hypertrophy is simple, such as due to nasal mucosal vasoconstrictors like ephedrine nasal drops or phenylephrine nasal drops, which show good shrinkage response, it suggests a simple hypertrophy, often mainly treated with medication. If the surface of the hypertrophied turbinate is uneven and unresponsive to vasoconstrictors, and if there is severe nasal congestion, reduced sense of smell or even loss of it, then medication may not effectively alleviate the condition. Surgical treatment, such as partial resection of the inferior nasal turbinate, would be needed to restore normal nasal airways.