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Dr. Michael Burnett Specializes in Problems of the Ear, Nose, Sinuses and Throat.

An ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) is a physician trained in the medical and surgical treatment of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. They have special expertise in managing diseases of the ears, nose and nasal passage sinuses, larynx (voice box), oral cavity and upper pharynx (mouth and throat), as well as structures of the neck and face. ENT is the oldest medical specialty in the United States.

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Category Archives: Nasal

ENT Doctor: Extreme Nasal Congestion

Extreme nasal congestion refers to seriously blocked and restricted air flow and difficulty breathing from your nose and in your sinuses. It usually happens when something irritates your nose’s interior tissue lining. As a result, it causes inflammation, mucus production, and swelling inside your nose. As your nose swells, it blocks the passage of air to breathe, and the person infected with nasal congestion feels difficulty breathing.

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Symptoms of Extreme Nasal Congestion

Consult the best ENT specialist at once if you have any of these symptoms.

  • The most common symptom of extreme nasal congestion is the complete blockage of the nose.
  • Blood discharging from your nose.
  • Tenderness and facial pain.
  • A constant runny nose.
  • Breathing with your mouth due to blocked airflow through the nasal passages.
  • Additional symptoms may include extreme sneezing, coughing, and headaches.

If a person is experiencing any of these symptoms, then there are high chances that he is affected with extreme nasal congestion.

Causes of Nasal Congestion

The common causes of nasal congestion are:

  • Respiratory infections: Infections in the respiratory tract are one of the major causes of nasal congestion. It also includes flu-like influenza and sometimes sinus infection as well.
  • Hay Fever: Some people are allergic to pollen and dust. Sneezing is a reflex action to counter allergies, but if it gets extreme, it may lead to nasal congestion.
  • Cold: It is also due to the common cold. If you are not feeling well, even if your nose is clear, these are some early signs of nasal congestion due to a cold.
  • Polyps: Fleshy masses inside the nose often lead to nasal congestion.
  • Deviated septum: It is also a significant cause of nasal congestion. A deviated septum can result in injury inside of the nose.
  • Adenoid glands: The swollen Adenoid glands in children can cause nasal congestion. These are fleshy tissues inside the upper wall of the throat. These can be removed if they are causing problems in breathing.

These are some things that cause nasal congestion.

How to Treat Nasal Congestion

There are several traditional and medical treatments to treat nasal congestion. The following treatments may help improve nose blockage and improve airflow:

  • Steam: In medical and traditional fields, steam is the best way to relieve and treat nasal congestion. 5 to 10 minutes of steam of boiling water gives much relief to the infected person.
  • Gargling: Salt water gargling is also a significant relief for people infected with nasal congestions.
  • Saline drops or solutions: Saline solutions and drops are readily available and helpful in treating nasal congestion.
  • Sprays: Your doctor can prescribe decongestant drops such as Ephedrine, providing excellent comfort to the infected person.
  • Menthol vapors and gels: Vicks is the most popular gel that is used to treat nasal congestion in a short time.

These are a few treatments that can quickly treat nasal congestion.

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Extreme Nasal Congestion: Get the Services of the Best ENT Specialist in New York

Don’t take nasal congestion lightly, as it can pave the way for other nasal and ENT related disease. Get the best treatment from Dr. Michael C. Burnett at Ear, Nose & Throat of New York.

Book an appointment now and treat your extreme nasal congestion.

Dr. Michael Burnett
115 East 57th Street
Suite 600
New York, NY 10022
212-867-4813

Common Nasal Conditions Requiring an ENT Doctor

What are the most common nasal conditions that require an ENT doctor? ENT specialists treat tumors of the neck and head along with other conditions. Some of these conditions include infections (ear, nose, and throat), swallowing disorders, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, and more. While your general healthcare doctor may handle short-term and acute ENT problems, you have to visit an otolaryngologist for effective treatments for chronic medical conditions and issues relating to ENT.

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What are the Types of Nasal Conditions that an ENT Doctor Treats?

Sinus Infections

Sinus infections occur due to blockage in the nasal cavities. Blockage can occur due to inflammation, swelling, and bacteria or viruses. Sinusitis is the common name of this condition which remains persistent after the respiratory symptoms fade.

However, it can also occur due to nasal polyps, tooth infections, and allergies, which cause sinus pain. Acute sinusitis may not last for long and trigger mild symptoms like respiratory illness or cold. Conversely, chronic sinusitis can persist for weeks and cause severe symptoms and pain.

Snoring

Snoring is a common problem, which can quite quickly turn into a chronic condition if left untreated. Often, chronic snoring is a symptom or sign of serious underlying medical conditions or diseases such as sleep apnea. Snoring occurs when the airflow passages in your mouth vibrate due to the contact of air movement with relaxed tissues such as the soft palate and tongue.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing involuntarily for short periods while sleeping at night. This condition can become chronic and is called OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). Usually, the air moves freely from the mouth to the lungs. However, during OSA, the airway passage in the throat becomes narrow, which causes difficult air movement in and out of the lungs. This narrow passage hinders breathing which can often result in snoring. Not attending to this condition can lead to serious health concerns such as strokes, disturbed sleep, diabetes, hypertension, and more.

Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is an autoimmune system response that occurs due to environmental triggers. When your body comes in contact with an allergen such as pollen which is highly common, your immune system triggers a response to fight it off. This leads to an allergic reaction. Symptoms could include sneezing, runny nose, itchiness, watery eyes, stuffy nose, and more. Eyelids swelling and headaches are signs of chronic allergic rhinitis. An ENT specialist might suggest treatment options or recommendations depending on the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

What Are the Common Nasal Procedures that an ENT Performs?

Treatment for Sinus Infections

For treating sinus infections, your ENT surgeon will use endoscopy to view your sinus anatomy for the surgical procedure that follows as treatment. They will insert an endoscope in your nostrils that will have a light source and camera attached to it. Viewing high-resolution footage of your nasal passage, the ENT specialist will carry out the required surgeries. They may correct a deviated septum, reduce turbinates (nasal bone structures), and remove excess tissue and/or polyps. The procedure usually takes no more than two hours.

Treatment for Snoring

Because snoring is a common problem, there are various non-surgical treatment options that your ENT surgeon may suggest. These may include dental mouthpieces that will readjust your tongue’s position to prevent the airway from getting blocked. Your ENT surgeon may also perform septoplasty to reduce the excess tissue in your nostrils that may be causing deviated septum and, consequently, snoring.

Other surgical procedures include palatal implants and laser surgeries to adjust and reposition the soft palate in your mouth. While mouthpieces require frequent applications, corrective surgical procedures are permanent solutions.

Common Nasal Conditions Requiring an ENT Doctor
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Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

There are many different types of medical treatments that you can avail of to help you with OSA. Despite that, your ENT surgeon may perform one of these two most common surgical procedures to treat OSA:

Tracheostomy: This involves puncturing one of the openings in your windpipe to move past the obstruction in your throat.

UPPP (Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty): In this surgical procedure, your ENT surgeon uses precise instruments to remove any excess tissue at your throat’s back. This helps in clearing the airway to reduce snoring.

Treatment for Allergic Rhinitis

Acute Rhinitis is short-term and can relieve within a short period with the right medication and home care. Conversely, in the case of chronic allergic rhinitis, the ENT surgeon may suggest saltwater solutions for gargling and advise to prevent exposure to allergens. Antihistamines also help with alleviating the symptoms of chronic allergic rhinitis. Desensitization injections are a minimally invasive treatment option that helps in controlling allergic reactions.

Common Nasal Conditions Requiring an ENT Doctor: Conclusion

Call us at 212-867-4813 to get in touch with Dr. Michael C. Burnett, MD, at Ear, Nose & Throat of New York. He offers the best, specialized care for ENT-related conditions, diseases, and disorders.

With individualized attention, Dr. Burnett delivers optimum patient care. Visit us in-person at 115 East 57th Street Suite 600 New York, NY 10022.

https://earnosethroatofnewyork.com/

 


Reference Links

https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/sinus-infection-symptoms
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-sinusitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351661
https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep/obstructive-sleep-apnea
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-ent-disorders-1191839

Do You Need An ENT Doctor For Sinus Surgery?

Do You Need An ENT Doctor for Sinus Surgery? Sinuses are a hollow cavity in the skull and are the connected system. The largest sinus cavity is approximately an inch long. Other sinuses are smaller. Sinus lines up with pink and soft tissue called mucosa. Sinuses only contain a thin layer of mucus. Nose insides contain turbinates, which are the ridges helping with filter air and humidity. The septum is a thin wall dividing your nose. The middle meatus is a drainage pathway or small channel that connects from sinuses to nose. Experts do not know the main reason for the presence of sinuses, but some suggest that it enhances our voice or help in humidifying the air.

Here are some more details about the Sinuses:

  • Ethmoid sinuses are between your eyes
  • Maxillary sinuses are the largest sinus and locate inside your cheekbones.
  • Sphenoid sinuses are in the bone, which is behind your nose.
  • Frontal sinuses are at the bottom middle part of your forehead.

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Sinus Surgery

During sinus surgery, a surgeon opens up the passageway and clear blockage of the sinuses. If a person is suffering from an ongoing sinus infection, abnormal growth of sinus, or unusual sinus structure, this surgery is the best option. Before attempting this surgery, the doctor may try other procedures and treatments if sinus infection remains; they perform this surgery. This procedure is brief and has few complications; it can also be a bit of discomfort.

Sinus Conditions

Acute Sinusitis (Sinus Infection)

Sinus infection or sinusitis is an extreme health condition. If it affects around 31 million people in the United States of America. People spent $1billion for the OTC medications, $150 for prescription medications, and have 16 million visits to the doctor every year just for sinus infection. People with these symptoms are at higher risks of a sinus infection:

  • The weak immune system in people can put them at high risk.
  • Blockage due to unusual structure in the sinus or nose
  • Allergies
  • Asthma

Chronic Sinusitis (Chronic Rhino Sinusitis)

Chronic sinusitis or chronic rhinosinusitis is a condition that occurs in your sinus and nose when the spaces get inflame and swell. Chronic sinusitis may last for three or more than three months, and won’t go despite treatment. This makes your nose stuffy and interferes with the drainage of your mucus. This will make it difficult to breathe through the nose, and makes the area around your eyes tender or swell. Chronic sinusitis can be a cause of swelling of sinuses lining, nasal polyps, or any kind of infection. This condition can affect children and adults.

Deviated Septum

When your nasal septum, which is the cartilage and bone between the nostrils and divides, your nasal cavity becomes crooked, or off-centered, you are suffering from a deviated septum. This may cause you problems in breathing.

Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis)

Allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and pollen can cause overreaction and trigger your defense system in sinuses and nose. It may lead to sneezing, mucus, nasal stuffiness, and itching.

Nasal Polyp

A nasal polyp grows from the nose and sinus lining, and is a noncancerous tumor. These polyps may occur in the left and right (both) nasal passage and block the airflow. Nasal polyps can decrease your senses of smell and make your nose stuffy. Not every growth and blockage in the nose and sinus are nasal polyps.

Best Sinus Surgery NYC
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Types of Sinus Surgery

A well-known surgical procedure for patients suffering from chronic sinusitis is endoscopic sinus surgery.  If you are having dangerous and rare fungal infections and tumors may require external and traditional surgical approaches that involve cuts over the eyebrows or on the gum line. Surgeries for sinuses involve:

Functional Endoscopic Surgery

In this surgical procedure, an endoscope, which is a lightened tube or includes a camera, directly enters through sinuses and nose. In this method of surgery, surgeons can clean out the sinuses, remove tissues, and increase the size of sinuses opening for the drain.

Balloon Sinuplasty

A catheter is inserted, attached to an inflatable balloon into the sinus. This balloon then inflates to widen up the sinus openings.

Open Sinus Surgery

In some severe cases of chronic sinusitis, a slight cut to open up the sinus may help, or the removal of tissue which is infected can ease up the condition.

ENT Doctor for Sinus Surgery

Dr. Michael Burnett is one of the best ENT specialists in New York City. If you have any condition related to your sinuses, or believe you may need an ENT Doctor for Sinus Surgery, contact us today at 212-867-4813.

Do You Have Nasal Polyps?

Nasal polyps result from an overgrowth of soft, painless, and noncancerous tissues in the sinuses, or the passage of the nose that hangs like a grape. They are a result of chronic inflammation and have a connection with allergies, asthma, drug sensitivity, recurring infection, or various immune conditions.

Small nasal polyps may not affect you, but a large group of nasal polyps can lead to breathing problems or block the passage of your nose completely. People who have this abnormal growth can also experience frequent infections and a loss of the sense of smell.

This condition can affect all age groups but is more common in adults. In some cases, medication can eliminate or shrink nasal polyps, but if this doesn’t work, your only option is surgery. In some cases, polyps can grow back after surgery and property treatment.

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Symptoms of Nasal Polyps

You may have nasal polyps due to chronic sinusitis (swelling and irritation of the lining of sinuses and the nasal passage that lasts more than 12 weeks). Another possibility is that you have chronic sinusitis, not nasal polyps.

Nasal polyps are soft, without any sensation. Therefore, you might not notice them when they are small. A large of multiple polyps may block your sinuses and the nasal passage. Symptoms and common signs of chronic sinusitis along with nasal polyps include:

  • Stuffiness in the nose
  • Runny nose
  • Postnasal dripping
  • Headache and facial pain
  • Upper teeth pain
  • Snoring
  • Bleeding nose
  • Pressure over your face and forehead
  • Lacking a sense of smell and taste

Diagnosis of Nasal Polyps

Dr. Michael Burnett, an ENT surgeon in our clinic, usually diagnoses the condition by asking some questions, examining your nose, and conducting a general physical examination. An instrument with a light on it may easily highlight the Polyps. Other diagnostic tests to identify Polyps include:

1.     Nasal Endoscopy

The nasal endoscope is a narrow tube that contains a tiny camera or lighted magnifying lens that helps in examining the inside of your sinuses and the inner side of your nose.

2.     Imaging Studies

Computerized tomography or CT can obtain images that help the doctor locate Polyps in deeper areas. Doctors can also identify the size of polyps, evaluate the irritation, and swelling using this technique. This method can also identify other possibilities of blockage in your nasal cavities, such as the abnormality of the structure or any cancerous or noncancerous growth.

3.     Allergy Tests

Skin tests can determine if you have chronic inflammation due to an allergy. A skin prick test involves pricking allergens from your upper back skin or forearm to observe signs of an allergic reaction.

4.     Test for Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a condition that genetically affects the glands of your child, producing sweat, mucus, tears, digestive juices, and saliva. If your child has nasal polyps, this test can further help determine the presence of cystic fibrosis. The doctor will examine the saltiness of your child’s sweat. Excessive saltiness may point to the presence of cystic fibrosis.

5.     Blood Test

Blood tests may also help identify the condition. For instance, Nasal Polyps are associated with a low level of vitamin D.

Nasal Polyps Causes Diagnosis | NYC ENT Doctor
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Risk Factors of Nasal Polyps

Long-term inflammation and swelling in your nasal area or sinuses can increase the risk of developing polyps. Conditions that lead to nasal polyps include:

  • Aspirin sensitivity
  • Asthma – This is a disease that causes your airway to become narrow.
  • Vitamin D deficiency – Lack of vitamin D can also lead to nasal polyps
  • Family History – You may also be at risk of developing this condition due to hereditary reasons.
  • Cystic Fibrosis – This is also a genetic disorder that produces abnormally thick and sticky fluids in the body. This fluid includes the development of excessive mucus in the sinus and nasal linings.
  • Allergic Fungal Sinusitis – This allergy spreads through airborne fungi and leads to nasal polyps.
  • Churg-Strauss Syndrome – This is a rare disease caused due to the swelling of blood vessels.

Conclusion

Nasal Polyps can cause complications as a result of blocked airflow and the presence of fluid that does not drain away. Moreover, this condition may also develop inflammation and irritation with time. If symptoms of this condition last for more than ten days, you should immediately visit a doctor to avoid serious circumstances.

Dr. Michael Burnett is the best ENT doctor in NYC, an expert in treating a wide variety of sinus, nose, and throat conditions.

To schedule an appointment, please call us at 212-867-4813.

Nasal Congestion: Causes & Treatment

Nasal congestion is a condition that causes you to feel an obstacle or difficulty in breathing from your nose. This condition is also known as a stuffy nose, which is different from a runny nose.

Most commonly, the reason for nasal congestion is swelling and inflammation of the lining tissue in the sinuses and nasal passages. In contrast to this, the less common cause of nasal congestion is anatomical obstruction. Nasal congestion can get worse with prolonged use of nasal decongestant drops or sprays.

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Common Causes of Nasal Congestion

When your nose is stuffed and inflamed, you may experience congestion. Many minor illnesses like sinus infections, colds, flu, etc. can lead to a stuffy nose. If you have congestion-related injuries, they may improve within one week. But if they last longer, you may have some severe health issues. In rare cases, nasal congestion can be a result of chronic medical conditions or nasal passage tumors. Some long-term nasal conditions associated with congestion are as follows:

  • Nasal Polyps
  • Bronchiolitis
  • Environmental Irritants
  • Nasal passage tumors
  • Vasomotor Rhinitis
  • Enlarged Adenoid
  • Nasal passage blocked by some foreign element
  • Injury/Trauma to the sinuses or nose
  • Various Medications
  • Viral Infections

Pregnancy can also be a cause of nasal congestion. An increase in blood supply and hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy may cause nasal congestion. Nasal membrane affects these changes due to dry, inflamed, or bleeding nose.

Home Remedies for Nasal Congestion

You may also get relief from nasal congestion by using home remedies. For instance, a humidifier adding moisture to the air may help clear up the mucus and ease you from the inflammation of the nasal passage. However, asthma patients should discuss with their doctors before using a humidifier. You can also prop your head with the pillow to let mucus flow out from the nasal passage.

Saline sprays can also show benefits for all ages, whereas you should use aspirator for babies. An aspirator helps in removing mucus from the baby’s nose. You can also follow below home remedies to get relief from nasal congestion:

  • Place warm and wet towel on the face
  • Prop your head
  • Avoid chlorinated pools
  • Use bulb syringe, neti pot, or a nasal irrigator
  • A nasal saline spray may also help
  • Use vaporizer or humidifier
  • Take a long shower
  • Taking steam from a hot water pot may also help in opening up your nasal passage
  • Drinking lots of fluid may also help

When to Visit a Doctor

When your congestion is due to some serious health conditions, home remedies might not work, and you will need to visit a doctor. You may need proper treatment, especially when your situation is causing you pain and disturbing your everyday activities. If you see the following symptoms, immediately visit an ENT specialist:

  • Congesting along with high fever for more than three days
  • Congesting lasting for ten days
  • Emphysema, or asthma
  • Fever and sinus pain with green nasal discharge

If you have a head injury recently and are having a bloody nasal discharge with a continuous flow of clear discharge, visit an ENT surgeon right away.

Infants and children

Nasal congestion is highly threatening for infants. If an infant is having trouble during feeding due to nose blockage, this may cause severe breathing problems. Furthermore, this may also cause difficulty in hearing and speech development.

If you find any symptoms of nasal congestion in infants, you need to contact a doctor immediately. You can contact Dr. Michael Burnett, who is one of the best ENT specialists in New York. He can work on your baby’s nasal congestion to provide the best treatment options.

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Treatment for Nasal Congestion

Once the doctor determines the leading cause of nasal congestion, he/she will give you a treatment plan to follow. Treatments include OTC or prescription medication to resolve the symptoms. Medicine for nasal congestion may include:

  • Oral antihistamines for allergies, such as Zyrtec and Claritin.
  • Nasal steroids
  • Nasal sprays containing antihistamines
  • OTC or prescribed decongestants
  • Antibiotics

Schedule an ENT Telemedicine Appointment with Dr. Michael Burnett

It is better to visit a doctor before you try any medication and home remedy, as the cause of your nasal congestion might be a bacterial infection or some other complication of a medical condition.

Call today to schedule an ENT Telemedicine appointment with ENT specialist Dr. Michael Burnett at 212-867-4813

Nasal Allergies

Nasal allergies or allergic rhinitis are among common health problems. The condition can be seasonal, which means that you may feel the symptoms at a specific time of the year, or perennial, meaning it can  throughout the year. This condition may also occur with other health problems like asthma.

Allergic Reaction

Your body’s reaction with an allergen may cause your allergy. Allergen is a substance causing abnormal responses to your body. Common allergens that may be a threat for your body include:

  • Mold
  • Pollen
  • Cockroaches
  • Feathered and furry animals
  • Dust mites

Allergens are generally harmless, but when a person has an allergy, the body considers it as harmful. Your body reacts and indicates antibodies to attack this substance. When allergens stick to antibodies, they make mass cells release chemicals like histamine. This chemical disturbs nearby nasal tissues causing you symptoms of nasal allergies.

Common Symptoms of Nasal Allergies

Due to allergies, your nasal tissue can swell, making your air passages smaller. This will also stuff up nose, excessive mucus formation, nose plug, and dripping out from the nose. Moreover, you will feel a postnasal drip, which is dripping of mucus through the throat. Sinus tissue will swell, causing you headache and pain. Some common symptoms of allergy are:

  • Sneezing
  • Watery and red eyes
  • Coughing
  • Headache
  • Nasal congestion
  • Itchy nose, ears eyes, and throat
  • Ear congestion
  • Postnasal drip
  • Sore throat
  • Sinus swell and pain
  • Runny nose and watery discharge

1.     Stuffy and Runny Nose

A most common symptom of nasal allergy is a stuffy or runny nose. You can start recovering by stopping allergy triggers. For that, you need to know what triggers your allergy. But it is hard to avoid some triggers. All you need to do is to reduce exposure to these allergens. Some people use Neti pot or a nasal rinse to clear congestion. Over-the-counter decongestants, antihistamines, and cromolyn sodium nasal sprays can help to control symptoms of nasal allergies. Do not use the nasal spray for more than three days without consulting the doctor. Always follow the direction to use OTC medicine. If you did not recover in seven days, you need to see a doctor.

2.     Sinus Pressure

Sinuses are cavities behind your cheeks, eyes, and forehead. Mucus buildup in this area due to allergies can cause you pain or pressure. Applying moist and warm cloth on your face or taking steam a few times a day can help reduce sinus congestion. Saline nasal spray can also help.

3.     Itchy Eyes

One of the common symptoms of allergy is watery or itchy eyes. It may not cause you any vision problems or severe eye issues, but it can be irritating.

To prevent itchy eyes, you have to avoid the triggers that can cause you allergies. For instance, if pollen can cause you allergy, you can keep your windows close, when you are inside. When you go out, you can wear a mask and sunglasses to protect your eyes and keep you away from allergens.

You should avoid wearing contact lenses as this can cause a reaction and do not rub your eyes, since you may irritate your eyes more. You can place a cold cloth on your eyes or use artificial tears to soothe your eyes. OTC medication, prescription, or eye drops can help to relieve you from this symptom.

4.     Post-Nasal Drip

Your body naturally generates mucus, and you continuously swallow it without knowing. During postnasal drip, your body either creates more mucus, or it becomes thick. This makes you feel the dripping into your throat from the back of your nose. It may also cause you irritation and pain as you feel a lump in your throat. When this happens, allergens can easily stick to the blockage due to mucus triggering allergies. To avoid this, you should continuously drink fluids, or you can use a saline nasal spray, which makes the mucus thin.

5.     Nasal Congestion

Nasal congestion is the term to refer to the difficulty of breathing in and out. This symptom may cause for various reasons, and the most common one is due to swelling and inflammation of the tissues of sinuses and nasal passage.

Conclusion

If you are feeling any of the above symptoms for more than a week, visit an ENT specialist. You can consult the best ENT Doctor Michael Burnett. To book an appointment, please contact us below:

Michael C. Burnett, MD

115 East 57th Street
(Between Park + Lexington Ave.)
Suite 600
New York, NY 10022

212-867-4813

Nasal Polyps

If you deal with chronic nasal congestion, postnasal drip, or sinus infections, you are probably desperate for relief. Many different problems can cause these symptoms, but if you’ve been trying different remedies with no relief, you may be dealing with nasal polyps. Nasal polyps aren’t life-threatening, but they can cause symptoms that disrupt your life. Read on to learn more about this condition.

What are Nasal Polyps?

Nasal polyps are soft growths that form in the sinuses or nasal cavities. They are not cancerous and usually not painful, though their growth can cause pain in the surrounding areas. Nasal polyps can occur at any age but are mostly found in adult patients.

Small polyps usually don’t cause any symptoms, so most patients do not know they have them. However, larger polyps can cause inflammation and obstruct the nasal passages and cause a person to have a variety of nose and sinus issues. Common symptoms include a chronically runny or stuffy nose, frequent postnasal drip, headaches, sinus pressure, and chronic sinusitis. Not all cases of chronic sinusitis are caused by nasal polyps though. If you’re dealing with this issue, your doctor will be able to determine the exact cause of your sinus infections.

Treating and Preventing Nasal Polyps

If you have nasal polyps, there are a few different treatment options available. The first treatment offered to patients is usually medication, which will target the polyps and help to keep the nasal passages clear. If over-the-counter sinus infection or allergy medication does not relieve your symptoms, your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic or nasal steroid spray to give you relief.

If your nasal polyps do not respond to the prescription medication, your doctor might also recommend surgery. Small polyps can be removed in an outpatient procedure called a polypectomy which uses a small suction device to remove the polyps. Larger polyps might require laparoscopic sinus surgery. During this procedure, your doctor will use insert a small camera into your nostril to monitor your polyps during removal. While this procedure is more involved than a polypectomy, it is still usually performed as an outpatient procedure.

When to See Your Doctor

If you suspect you are dealing with chronic sinusitis or have other persistent nasal or sinus issues, make an appointment with an ENT to check for nasal polyps. Your doctor will be able to easily diagnose these polyps in their office. If you have them, addressing them might finally provide you with sinus relief.

Following your doctor’s instructions can also help you to prevent more polyps in the future. While this isn’t a guarantee for everyone, your ENT will be able to determine the cause of your polyps and recommend home remedies and triggers to avoid. Working these into your lifestyle (along with your medication) can help you feel better.

Do you think you might have nasal polyps? Don’t wait to get your symptoms checked. Contact Dr. Michael Burnett at 212-867-4813 to schedule an ENT appointment today.

What Are Nasal Polyps?

They can’t be seen by the naked eye, but nasal polyps reside deep within the nasal passages. Normally, air flows between the nose, throat and mouth uninhibited. Nasal polyps hang like stalactites from the inside of your nasal passages, and they can cause you to feel like you are always congested. Because they can’t be seen easily, you will need an ENT to tell you whether or not you are being afflicted by nasal polyps.

What Are Nasal Polyps?

Essentially, nasal polyps are just benign growths that exist in the nasal passage. They aren’t dangerous, but their size and shape can lead to nasal blockages. Close your mouth and take a deep breath in through your nose. If you feel that you can’t get enough air, you are either congested, have a collapsed nasal passage, or there could be nasal polyps present.

Causes

There isn’t one root cause for nasal polyps. If you have always had sinus issues, they could develop as a result. Another more recent medical discovery has linked nasal polyps with the frequent use of aspirin. ENT doctors even believe that nasal polyps could be a precursor to asthma and other breathing issues. They can develop in childhood just as easily as they can become present in older people.

Signs and Symptoms

Nasal polyps generally cause breathing and sinus issues. If you constantly have sinus headaches or congestion, you might have some nasal polyps. Then again, there are literally dozens of other reasons that chronic congestion can occur. Generally, if you do have nasal polyps you will feel the urge to blow your nose more frequently than usual as you will feel the presence of something foreign being present in your nasal passages.

Treatment

Nasal polyps can only be treated with medical intervention. In other words, a doctor will need to physically remove them via a surgical procedure or you will be prescribed drugs that will make the polyps dry up and fall off. There is little to no discomfort associated with nasal polyp treatments. Prescription drugs used to eliminate nasal polyps do sometimes come with side effects.

If you feel that you would breathe easier after having nasal polyps removed, then you should seek out a safe medical treatment. A doctor will need to evaluate you to see how many polyps are present as well as where they are situated. Get rid of your nasal polyps by scheduling an appointment with the best NYC ENT doctors as soon as possible.

Contact us at 212-867-4813 to schedule a consultation.

Deviated Nasal Septums: A Look at the Treatment Options

A deviated septum is a condition that can appear at birth, as a result of a treatment or after an accident. Whatever the circumstances may be, it is never easy, especially when you have to deal with constant congestion and infections. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available to people who suffer from the condition.… Continue Reading

Michael C. Burnett, MD

115 East 57th Street
(Between Park + Lexington Ave.)
Suite 600
New York, NY 10022

212-867-4813