The nose plays a very important role in your respiratory system. It inhales oxygen, exhales carbon dioxide, and contributes to other important functions such as hearing and tasting. It is also connected directly to your sinuses.

The sinuses are a connected system of four hallow cavities within the skull: The maxillary sinus (in the cheekbones), the ethmoid sinuses (between your eyes), the sphenoid sinuses (behind the nose), and the frontal sinuses (low center of the forehead). To help the nose function, our sinuses are lined with soft, pink tissue and are empty except for a thin layer of mucus.

There are a variety of nasal and sinus conditions that can severely impact one’s ability to go through each day normally and without frustration. Our specialists are trained to assist patients with a wide range of disorders that affect the nose and sinuses.

Sinus Infections

Our sinuses are more complex than many people think, with a system of cavities that are present in several sections of our skull. Although it’s unclear why we have sinuses, they are an essential part of our overall health, and any blockage or disorder can create discomfort and can challenge our daily lives. The four parts of our sinuses are:

Frontal sinuses
Ethmoid sinuses
Maxillary sinuses
Sphenoid sinuses

The sinuses and our nose have unique characteristics which allow them to function at maximum capacity. A thin lining of mucous is present in each of the sinus sections, and the nasal cavities are complete with ridges and hairs that help to filter air and debris from entering our sinuses.

How Sinus and Nasal Disorders Are Diagnosed

When you visit our office, we will review your complete medical history and discuss any symptoms that may indicate a sinus or nasal problem. You will also undergo a complete a comprehensive head and neck exam. Our specialist will use a nasal endoscope to view the interior of your nasal cavity, your sinuses and larynx, allowing us to determine if there are visual indications of a specific disorder.

Depending on your symptoms, we may need to take a biopsy of any masses or a culture if bacteria is present. Some instances call for a CT scan which can be helpful in diagnosing sinus disease. After we review your lab results, we will discuss your next steps. Often, we may simply recommend antibiotics to clear up an infection, or you may benefit from a surgical procedure to provide you with years of comfort.

Balloon Sinuplasty

Some patients who experience recurring sinus infections typically chose to undergo surgery to receive any sort of permanent treatment, but advances in technology have allowed us to offer a non-invasive procedure instead called balloon sinuplasty. It’s a quick procedure that doesn’t require any cutting and has been proven to show exceptional results.

In order to open the sinuses, a balloon catheter is inserted through the nostril into the sinus passage and inflated. This opens the sinus walls and allows us to flush out the sinus cavity with saline. The balloon allows for the sinus walls to widen and restructure during this procedure, ensuring the patient will no longer be plagued by their condition. Contact our office today to learn more about balloon sinuplasty in New Jersey.

Nosebleeds

Most of the time, a nosebleed is not serious because there are several reasons why you may experience a nosebleed. The blood from an anterior nosebleed comes from in the nasal septum, which is made up of tiny little blood vessels that all join in the area of the septum called the Kiesselbach plexus (almost 90% of all nose bleeds come from this area). This type of nosebleed can be treated at home – most of the time – but occasionally, medical attention is necessary.

There are only a few reasons why a nosebleed could be serious and even life threating. Posterior nosebleeds are rare compared to anterior nosebleeds but with posterior nosebleeds, the bleeding starts from an artery in the back of the nose (this is more common in elderly people. Posterior nose bleeding requires hospitalization. Other causes of nose bleeds include:

Sinus infections
Nasal passage infections (virus or bacterial)
Recent nasal surgery (medical-related or plastic surgery)
Dry nostril passages
Excessive or hard nose blowing
Allergies
Deviated nasal spectrum (nasal septum deviates to one side)
Foreign object in the nose (typically applies to children)
Secondary to a disease or condition
Certain prescription medications (like blood thinners and anti-inflammatory medications)
Antihistamines
High blood pressure
Anxiety
Blunt force trauma to the face
Broken nose
Cocaine use

Typically, a nosebleed should not last longer than 10 or 15 minutes, although it can bleed for as long as 30 minutes. If the nosebleed has not stopped within 30 minutes, seek medical attention.

Nasal Polyps

Nasal polyps are growths of tissue in the wrong place; these growths are not cancerous. They may be brown or pink and they may grow alone or in bunches. Nasal polyps are not associated with polyps in other parts of the body. Genetics and age are strong factors in risk for polyps, so if you are over 40 and your parents had polyps, you will likely develop polyps.

Polyps are not a disease but a swelling of tissue. People with allergies, asthma and cystic fibrosis all can get polyps, but the allergies, asthma and cystic fibrosis are not known to cause the polyps. When tissue swells, becomes filled with fluid, and then gravity eventually pulls it down forming the polyp.

There are two approaches to treating polyps: surgical and non-surgical. The non-surgical approach is usually the first treatment, and this includes oral treatments and steroid sprays. If the surgical route is necessary, it will be performed through a Polypectomy or an Endoscopic surgery.

A Polypectomy is the removal of the polyps under local or general anesthetic through the nasal passages and the recovery process is brief.
An Endoscopic surgery is an option when the polyps can’t be reached with a simple polypectomy and a nasal endoscope is used to remove the polyps.

Runny Nose (Rhinitis/Rhinorrhea)

Rhinorrhea is a thin, relatively clear nasal discharge or commonly known as a runny nose; alternatively, Rhinitis refers to inflammation of the nasal tissues from several causes, which usually results in a runny nose.

Runny nose can be caused by any irritation or inflammation of the nasal tissues. Things like infections — such as the common cold and influenza — allergies and various irritants may all cause a runny nose. Some people have a runny nose for no apparent reason — a condition called nonallergic rhinitis or vasomotor rhinitis (VMR).

Causes of runny nose include:

Sinus infection
Common cold or flu
Allergies
Decongestant nasal spray overuse or other medications
Deviated septum
Drug use
Chronic sinusitis
Churg-Strauss syndrome
Dry air
Tobacco smoke
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s granulomatosis)
Hormonal changes
Nasal polyps
Nonallergic rhinitis (congestion or sneezing not due to allergies)
Occupational asthma
Pregnancy
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Spinal fluid leak

A runny nose may be annoying and uncomfortable, but it usually clears up on its own without intervention from a medical professional. You should see a doctor if:

You have a fever
Your symptoms last 10 days or more
Your nasal discharge is yellow and green and is accompanied by sinus pain (potential bacterial infection)
You experienced a head injury, which resulted in nasal discharge

Deviated and Perforated Septum

Your nasal septum is the cartilage that separates your nostrils in your nose. If it’s perforated, that means you have a hole through part of the septum. If its deviated, it means that the septum is off center or crooked, making it more difficult to breathe through your nose.

Perforated Septum

Treatment of a perforated septum can vary based on the size and severity of the perforation. Small perforations can cause a whistling noise when breathing, while larger perforations usually have more severe symptoms like nosebleeds, trouble breathing, and the feeling that your nose is blocked up. You might even make a whistling sound as you breathe.

Some nonsurgical methods like irrigating with saline sprays in the nose, using a humidifier and applying an antibiotic ointment can help. Other times, the doctor may recommend surgical treatment to attempt to close the hole. Medical treatment for a perforated septum is determined based on each individual case, so please contact us to discuss your needs with our specialists.

Deviated Septum

Treatment of a deviated septum may begin with managing the symptoms through prescriptions like antihistamines, decongestants and a nasal steroid. Surgical repair may also be an option or a septoplasty. During septoplasty, your nasal septum is repositioned in the center of your nose. Medical treatment for a deviated septum is determined based on each individual case, so please contact us to discuss your needs with our specialists.

Loss of Smell (Anosmia)

Your sense of smell is incredibly important. Without being able to smell, food tastes different, you can’t smell things like flowers, and you could find yourself in a dangerous situation like being unable to smell smoke from a fire or gas from a leak.

The most common causes of loss of smell are nasal congestion from a cold, allergy, sinus infection, or poor air quality. Some other less common causes include nasal polyps, nasal injury, exposure to toxins, drug abuse, medications, radiation treatments and aging.

Treatment for loss of smell can vary depending on the cause. Sometimes, short-term use of over-the-counter decongestants may open your nasal passages but if the congestion gets worse or does not go away after a few days, you should see your doctor. You may have an infection or another medical condition.

At Accelerate ENT, we are trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of sinus and nasal disorders. We place a strong emphasis on this facet of your health, not only because any disorders can impact the enjoyment of your daily life, but because the ability to breathe normally is essential to a balanced body. Contact Accelerate ENT in New Jersey to schedule your appointment today!