Sinus problems can affect far more than your nose. Ongoing congestion, facial pressure, drainage, headaches, ear pressure, and difficulty breathing can interfere with sleep, work, exercise, and everyday life.
Glatz Group provides comprehensive sinus care for patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley from our McAllen location. Our team evaluates what is causing recurring sinus symptoms and helps patients understand the treatment options available to them.
A stuffy nose may be temporary. Sinus problems that continue returning are different.
Chronic inflammation, allergies, sinus infections, nasal polyps, enlarged turbinates, and other forms of nasal obstruction can all make it difficult for the nose and sinuses to function normally.
The first step is understanding why the symptoms keep happening.
Patients sometimes get used to living with congestion and pressure, especially when symptoms have been present for months or years.
Common symptoms that may deserve a closer look include:
An ENT evaluation can help determine whether these symptoms are coming from chronic sinusitis, allergies, inflammation, a physical blockage, or another condition.
Different sinus problems can produce very similar symptoms. That is why simply treating congestion over and over may not solve the underlying problem.
At Glatz Group, the focus is on identifying the cause first. Once the source of the problem is better understood, treatment can be based on what is actually happening inside the nose and sinuses.
The Rio Grande Valley can expose patients to pollen and other environmental triggers throughout much of the year. For people with allergies, that exposure can contribute to inflammation inside the nose.
Allergy related inflammation may contribute to congestion, sneezing, drainage, sinus pressure, and difficulty breathing comfortably through the nose.
For some patients, addressing allergies is an important part of improving overall sinus health.
Learn more about allergy care at Glatz Group.
Sinusitis occurs when the tissues lining the sinuses become inflamed. When those symptoms continue for an extended period or repeatedly return, patients may be dealing with chronic sinusitis.
Pressure, congestion, drainage, reduced smell, headaches, and recurring infections are common reasons patients seek an ENT evaluation.
Inflammation is not the only thing that can interfere with breathing and sinus drainage. Structural problems inside the nose may also restrict normal airflow.
Nasal polyps, enlarged turbinates, and other forms of nasal obstruction can contribute to persistent congestion and sinus symptoms.
Learn more about nasal polyps and obstruction.
A sinus evaluation gives your ENT team an opportunity to look beyond the symptoms and determine what may be contributing to the problem.
Treatment depends on the diagnosis. Some patients may benefit from medication or allergy management. Others may need an office procedure or surgical treatment to address an obstruction or chronic sinus disease.
The goal is not to recommend the same solution for every patient. It is to match treatment to the actual cause of the symptoms.
Many sinus conditions respond well to medical treatment. However, some patients continue experiencing pressure, congestion, infections, or difficulty breathing even after trying medication.
When symptoms continue, additional treatment options may be worth discussing with an ENT specialist.
Balloon sinuplasty may be an option for qualifying patients with chronic sinus problems. The procedure is designed to open blocked sinus pathways and improve normal drainage.
Dr. Frank R. Glatz has provided balloon sinuplasty to patients in the Rio Grande Valley since 2012.
Learn more about balloon sinuplasty.
The nose, sinuses, and ears are closely connected. Changes in pressure and inflammation can sometimes make the ears feel full, plugged, or uncomfortable.
If ear pressure frequently happens along with congestion or sinus symptoms, evaluating both may help identify the source of the problem.
Learn more about sinus pressure and ear pressure.
For many patients, successful sinus treatment is about more than clearing a stuffy nose.
It can mean breathing more comfortably through the nose, sleeping with less congestion, exercising without constantly feeling blocked, experiencing fewer sinus infections, and spending less time thinking about sinus pressure.
Glatz Group provides sinus evaluation, medical treatment, allergy care, office procedures, and surgical options from our McAllen location.
Keeping evaluation and treatment within one ENT practice allows patients to move through the process with a team that already understands their symptoms and history.
If chronic congestion, sinus pressure, drainage, recurring infections, or difficulty breathing through your nose are interfering with your life, Glatz Group can help determine what may be causing the problem.
Visit Glatz Group at 400 E Dove Ave, McAllen, Texas 78504.
Schedule Your Sinus Evaluation
When ear, nose, throat, hearing, sinus, or sleep problems start affecting everyday life, having access to the right specialist matters. Glatz Group provides comprehensive ENT care for patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley from our McAllen location.
Our team evaluates conditions affecting the ears, nose, throat, sinuses, hearing, breathing, and sleep so patients can better understand what is causing their symptoms and what treatment options may be available.
ENT conditions often overlap. Sinus inflammation can create pressure in the ears. Nasal obstruction can interfere with sleep. Hearing problems can affect communication, work, and quality of life.
Glatz Group provides care across the full ENT spectrum, giving patients throughout the Valley access to evaluation, treatment, advanced procedures, hearing care, and surgical options when appropriate.
Some ear, nose, and throat symptoms clear on their own. Others continue returning, become more severe, or begin affecting sleep and daily activities.
An ENT evaluation can help determine whether symptoms are connected and what may be causing them.
Ear problems can range from temporary infections and pressure to hearing loss, dizziness, chronic ear conditions, and problems that require advanced treatment.
Glatz Group evaluates ear symptoms and provides hearing care for patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley, including hearing evaluations, hearing solutions, cochlear implants, and implantable hearing technology.
Explore ear and hearing care at Glatz Group.
Constant congestion and sinus pressure are not something patients should simply learn to live with. Chronic sinusitis, allergies, nasal polyps, enlarged turbinates, and other forms of nasal obstruction can all make breathing difficult.
Our ENT team evaluates the cause of recurring sinus and nasal symptoms and can recommend medical treatment, allergy management, office procedures, or surgical treatment when appropriate.
Persistent throat pain, tonsil problems, changes in your voice, swallowing concerns, and other throat symptoms may require evaluation by an ENT specialist.
Because the nose, throat, and airway work together, an ENT evaluation can also help determine whether another condition is contributing to recurring throat symptoms.
Sleep problems are not always just sleep problems. Snoring, interrupted breathing, poor quality sleep, morning headaches, and daytime fatigue may be connected to problems affecting the airway.
Glatz Group evaluates sleep related breathing conditions and offers treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea, including Inspire therapy for qualifying patients.
Learn more about Inspire sleep apnea treatment.
Allergies can contribute to congestion, drainage, sinus pressure, sneezing, ear pressure, and difficulty breathing comfortably through the nose.
For patients with recurring nasal and sinus symptoms, identifying allergy triggers and controlling inflammation may be an important part of treatment.
Learn more about allergy care.
Patients should not have to leave the Rio Grande Valley simply to access experienced ENT care. Glatz Group provides evaluation and treatment for a wide range of conditions from our McAllen location.
Dr. Frank R. Glatz is a board certified otolaryngologist who attended Wake Forest University for medical school and completed fellowship training at Johns Hopkins.
His experience includes advanced sinus treatment, hearing restoration, cochlear implants, implantable hearing technology, sleep apnea treatment, and comprehensive ear, nose, and throat care.
Depending on the condition, treatment may involve medication, monitoring, hearing technology, an office procedure, or surgery. Having access to multiple options through one ENT practice can make it easier to move from diagnosis to treatment.
The right treatment starts with understanding the problem first.
Glatz Group welcomes patients from across the Rio Grande Valley at our McAllen office.
Whether you are looking for help with ear problems, hearing changes, chronic sinus symptoms, nasal obstruction, throat concerns, sleep apnea, or another ENT condition, our team can help determine the next step.
Visit Glatz Group at 400 E Dove Ave, McAllen, Texas 78504.
Sinus pressure, congestion, drainage, headaches, and trouble breathing through your nose can make everyday life uncomfortable. When those symptoms keep returning, it may be time to find out what is causing them.
Glatz Group provides comprehensive sinus care in McAllen for patients dealing with chronic sinus problems, nasal obstruction, allergies, recurring infections, and other conditions affecting the nose and sinuses.
Sinus problems are not always as simple as having a stuffy nose. Inflammation, allergies, structural problems, nasal polyps, enlarged turbinates, and chronic sinusitis can all contribute to ongoing symptoms.
At Glatz Group, our goal is to determine what is causing the problem first. From there, we can discuss treatment options designed around your symptoms and your individual needs.
Sinus symptoms can return for many different reasons. Some patients may be dealing with allergies or inflammation. Others may have a physical blockage that makes it difficult for the sinuses to drain normally.
An ENT evaluation can help identify whether your symptoms are being caused by chronic sinusitis, nasal obstruction, polyps, turbinate problems, allergies, or another condition affecting normal airflow and drainage.
Symptoms that continue, frequently return, or interfere with your daily life may be worth discussing with an ENT specialist.
When sinus inflammation continues for an extended period of time or infections repeatedly return, the problem may be chronic sinusitis.
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the condition. An evaluation can help determine whether medication, allergy management, an office procedure, or another treatment option may be appropriate.
Not every sinus problem is caused by an infection. Structural conditions inside the nose can restrict airflow and interfere with normal sinus drainage.
Conditions such as nasal polyps, enlarged turbinates, and other nasal obstructions may contribute to persistent congestion and difficulty breathing.
Learn more about nasal polyps and nasal obstruction.
Allergies can cause inflammation inside the nose, which may lead to congestion, sneezing, drainage, sinus pressure, and difficulty breathing comfortably.
For some patients, managing allergies is an important part of improving long term sinus and nasal health.
Learn more about allergy care.
Medication can provide relief for many sinus conditions, but some patients continue to experience pressure, congestion, infections, or difficulty breathing despite treatment.
When symptoms continue, Glatz Group can evaluate whether additional treatment options may be appropriate.
For qualifying patients with chronic sinus problems, balloon sinuplasty may be an option. The procedure is designed to help open blocked sinus pathways and improve drainage without traditional sinus surgery.
Dr. Frank R. Glatz has provided balloon sinuplasty to patients in the Rio Grande Valley since 2012.
Learn more about balloon sinuplasty.
The ears, nose, and sinuses are closely connected. Congestion and inflammation can sometimes contribute to pressure or a plugged sensation in the ears.
If sinus symptoms and ear pressure seem to happen together, an ENT evaluation can help determine what may be contributing to both.
Learn more about sinus pressure and ear pressure.
Glatz Group provides patients with access to sinus evaluation, medical treatment, office procedures, and surgical options when necessary. Keeping care within one ENT team can make it easier to move from diagnosis to treatment without starting over somewhere else.
If sinus pressure, congestion, drainage, recurring infections, or trouble breathing through your nose are affecting your daily life, Glatz Group can help determine what may be causing the problem.
Visit our McAllen office at 400 E Dove Ave, McAllen, Texas 78504.
Schedule Your Sinus Evaluation
When you are dealing with ear pain, sinus pressure, hearing changes, throat problems, or trouble breathing, finding the right specialist can make a big difference. Glatz Group provides complete ENT care in McAllen, TX for adults and children with conditions affecting the ears, nose, throat, sinuses, hearing, and sleep.
If you are looking for an experienced ENT doctor in McAllen, our team can help identify what is causing your symptoms and guide you toward the right treatment.
Ear, nose, and throat conditions can affect much more than one part of your body. Congestion can affect sleep. Sinus problems can create pressure in the ears. Hearing changes can affect communication and quality of life.
At Glatz Group, we look at the complete picture. Our McAllen ENT team evaluates your symptoms, determines what may be causing them, and recommends treatment based on your individual needs.
An ENT doctor specializes in conditions affecting the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck. Patients may visit an ENT for symptoms that are temporary, recurring, or affecting everyday life.
At Glatz Group, we provide care across a wide range of ENT conditions, including ear problems, hearing concerns, sinus conditions, nasal obstruction, throat problems, allergies, sleep apnea, and breathing concerns.
Ear pressure, infections, hearing loss, dizziness, pain, and other ear concerns can have many different causes. An ENT evaluation can help determine what is happening and whether treatment is needed.
Glatz Group also provides advanced hearing care, including hearing evaluations, hearing solutions, cochlear implants, and implantable hearing technology.
Learn more about ear and hearing care.
Chronic congestion, sinus pressure, recurring sinus infections, nasal obstruction, and difficulty breathing through the nose can interfere with sleep, exercise, concentration, and everyday comfort.
Our team treats a variety of nasal and sinus conditions, including chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, turbinate problems, allergies, and structural conditions that can affect airflow.
Explore our nose and sinus services.
Persistent sore throat, tonsil problems, hoarseness, swallowing concerns, and other throat symptoms may require evaluation by an ENT specialist.
Our goal is to identify the cause of your symptoms and help determine the most appropriate next step.
Snoring, poor sleep, daytime fatigue, and breathing interruptions during sleep may be signs of sleep apnea or another airway problem.
Glatz Group provides evaluation and treatment for sleep related breathing conditions, including Inspire therapy for qualifying patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Learn more about Inspire sleep apnea treatment.
Allergies can contribute to congestion, sinus pressure, drainage, sneezing, and difficulty breathing through the nose. Identifying allergy triggers and managing inflammation can be an important part of improving sinus and nasal health.
Learn more about allergy care.
Dr. Frank R. Glatz is a board certified otolaryngologist who attended Wake Forest University for medical school and completed fellowship training at Johns Hopkins.
Glatz Group has served patients throughout McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley for decades, providing comprehensive ENT care along with advanced treatment options for sinus, hearing, sleep, and other conditions.
You do not have to travel far to find comprehensive ear, nose, and throat care. Glatz Group is located at 400 E Dove Ave in McAllen, Texas.
If ear pain, sinus pressure, hearing changes, congestion, throat problems, or sleep concerns are affecting your daily life, schedule an evaluation with our McAllen ENT team.
Winter weather in Texas isn’t as cold as in many of the northern states, but you may wonder if the cooler temperatures can improve your seasonal allergies. Since the sticky hot summer air has finally cooled off, you may hope that you’ll finally find some allergy relief.
Unfortunately, cold weather isn’t always a friend to your ears, nose, and throat. Keep reading to learn how a temperature change can trigger your allergies, and how you can get help from your Edinburg ENT doctor to fight off those pesky allergies!
When the outside temperature drops, the change can be hard on your lungs and lead to allergic reactions, including worsening congestion, runny nose, wheezing, and coughing fits.
But staying indoors all the time won’t help your allergies, either. Since it’s cooler outside, many people stay inside more often in the winter. You’re most likely keeping the windows closed and maybe turning the heat up a little higher. This creates a space with less fresh air and more dry heat. Staying indoors all the time in the winter can also make allergies to dust and pet dander worse.
Sometimes Texas winter days are really dry, which isn't the best for allergy sufferers. The cold, dry air can suck the moisture out of your nasal passages, lips, and skin, making it easier for allergens to settle into your lungs.
On the other hand, too much moisture in the air also isn’t good. If the Texas winter weather is too wet, it can encourage mold and dust mites to grow. The air moisture levels have to be just right to keep your allergies from reacting. However, that’s not always something we can control.
Being allergic to the cold is a real thing, and it’s called cold urticaria! The more common form causes itchy hives, swelling, and redness on the skin after exposure to cold temperatures. However, it needs to be under 39 degrees Fahrenheit for an allergic reaction to happen. Reactions usually pop up within a few minutes after warming the skin and only last a couple of hours.
Texas is great if you want to avoid having to deal with cold northern winters! However, you may not be able to completely escape your allergies just because the air is a bit warmer. But the Glatz Group has your back! There are a few things you can do to get winter allergy relief:
Knowing exactly what you’re allergic to can help you understand how you can protect your ears, nose, and throat. If you’re allergic to dust mites or pet dander, then you’ll know you need to dust often or bathe your furry friends more.
Reach out to our compassionate and experienced team at the Glatz Group to find out how you can fight off your allergy foes and still enjoy the cooler Texas weather!
If your loved ones' sneezes are enough to blow over the Christmas tree, they are probably looking for some relief! The cold and dry winter air can cause allergy flare-ups, and you don’t want anyone miserable during the holiday season. Give your friends and family a gift they can actually use for sinus relief this Christmas!
On the other hand, maybe your loved one’s allergies are under control, but you don’t want to give them a gift that could further irritate their ear, nose, or throat. Keep reading to find the ultimate list of gift ideas for anyone with allergies on your Christmas list!
Your loved ones will love the extra thought and care you’ve put into giving them a gift they can use for allergy relief!
You could also build a sinus relief holiday gift basket! Include tissues, nasal spray, decongestant tablets, allergy relief teas, and a gift card to their favorite pharmacy. Or, if they already have all the vacuums, air purifiers, and humidifiers they need, consider gifting your loved ones extra filters, as they can get a little expensive.
The one thing you don’t want to do this holiday season is to give your loved ones a thoughtful gift and then watch them suffer with a fit of sneezes. Protect your friends and family this Christmas by avoiding these gifts.
If your friends and family have a specific brand they know is safe, buy from them! Always ask before you buy a questionable product to avoid making your loved ones sick.
Allergies can really bring down the holiday spirit! Spending time sniffling, laying in bed, or sitting in front of the humidifier trying to find allergy relief isn’t the best way to spend the Christmas season.
Bring your loved ones with allergies to the Glatz Group to help them find relief this yea. With our experienced team, your friends and family can find the best solution to fighting allergies and get back to enjoying the things that matter most!
Now that summer has arrived, you may be hoping for some sinus relief after the colder winter months! Unfortunately, summer weather can still cause issues with your sinuses, despite being warmer. The changes in temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure can affect your sinuses, leaving you with pain or pressure in your eyes, cheeks, and forehead.
When humidity or dry heat hits, you may experience sinus pressure or pain. An ENT can help you learn how to keep sinus pain away this summer! Keep reading to learn how your sinuses can be harmed by humidity or dry heat and get some tips to avoid sinus pain this summer.
Your sinuses are covered by a thin lining called the mucous membrane, which itself is covered by tiny particles called cilia. The cilia keep your sinuses clean and push out mucus. However, they can also be vulnerable to changes in the weather.
When the humidity is high, the extra moisture in the air causes the cilia in your nose not to work as they should, which can cause you to have extra mucus. This excess mucus can drain into your throat, leading to coughs or sore throats, or can drain into your ears, causing them to clog, feel tender, or become infected.
Cilia in your body are affected by dry heat as well. With less moisture in the air, there is less moisture in your nose, which causes the mucus to dry up and become thicker and more likely to clog your sinuses. Not only is this uncomfortable, but dry mucus can lead to swelling, nosebleeds, and infections.
When the humidity rises, you can take action to help your sinuses. Follow these five tips to prevent sinus pain from humidity this summer.
5 Ways to Avoid Sinus Harm From Dry Heat
You may not be able to control the dryness of the summer day, but you can do some things to help keep your sinuses moist. During the dry summer, you can find relief for your sinuses by following these five tips.
Summer is supposed to be a great time for fun and adventures, but sometimes you may experience sinus pain from the humidity or dry heat. Don’t let the weather ruin your summer!
Dr. Glatz and his team of sinus experts are here to help you with your sinus troubles so that you can get back to your summer plans!
January is the time when most of us get started on our plans for the new year, looking forward to the sweet-smelling flowers and bright green foliage of spring! Unfortunately with that beautiful time comes allergy season.
If you’re dealing with sinus problems, choosing the right ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor can make all the difference in the world. Here at Glatz Group, our sinus doctors can provide the care and services you need to get back to feeling your best.
Below, you can learn more about some of the most common causes of seasonal allergies.
Allergies may come in many forms, from hay fever in the summer and autumn to indoor dust, mold, and pet dander year-round. However, one of the leading causes of year-round allergies is pollen:
Thankfully, there are a few simple steps that you can take to protect yourself from the sinus infections often caused by pollen.
If your allergy symptoms and sinus problems last throughout the year, you may have an allergy to something indoors. Year-round allergies, especially those suffered primarily indoors, are most common with people who are allergic to mold spores, pet dander, dust, and even cockroaches.
On the other hand, if your allergies occur primarily outside, you may be allergic to various types of grasses, trees, weeds, flowers, or certain types of mold. The best way to determine the cause of your allergies is to get an allergy test performed by an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor (ENT), also called an otolaryngologist.
In order to conduct the test, your ENT doctor will perform either a skin test or an allergen-specific blood test. After the test, your doctor may prescribe an antihistamine, or in severe cases, a balloon sinuplasty, a type of sinus surgery.
Many allergies are passed down from family member to family member, making the process of narrowing down what you’re allergic to easier if it’s been previously diagnosed in a close family member.
Most springtime allergies are a result of various types of trees. In Northern America, these trees can include birch, cedar, alder, horse, chestnut, willow, and poplar.
The biggest contender for summertime allergies is actually grasses. In Northern America, these grasses include ryegrass, Timothy grass, and certain types of weeds. During the summer months, it’s also common for people to be allergic to hay, as it’s seasonally cut at this time. This gives summer seasonal allergies the nickname, “hay fever.”
Common plants that drop their pollen in the autumn months include nettles, mugworts, sorrels, fat hens, and plantains. The most common allergen in this season, however, is ragweed. Ragweed is an invasive plant that is hard to kill, and the symptoms of this allergy can be sometimes more severe than allergens in other seasons.
Outdoor allergies usually die down during the winter, as many flowering plants go dormant. However, the leaves falling from the tops of trees can harbor mold, which can trigger allergies. Most allergens in this season result from being indoors more often, including mold from poor ventilation or water damage, dust mites, and pet dander.
In order to combat these allergens, be sure to wash your clothes and bedsheets often, as well as rinse down you and your pets after being outside.
Your local sinus doctor and ENT specialists at Glatz Group can help you get relief from your sinus problems, regardless of the season. If you’re dealing with persistent symptoms, reach out to us today for a consultation and to start the process of taking control of your seasonal allergies.
Whether it’s a runny nose, a persistent cough, or a serious case of sniffles, allergies always seem to find a way to make our lives harder when the seasons change. One day you’re walking in the park and the next thing you know, you’ve entered a neverending sneeze marathon.
There’s never a convenient time to deal with seasonal allergies, but there are surprisingly effective ways to help combat those pesky symptoms whenever they pop up.
From making changes to your A/C to prioritizing hydration, there are all sorts of things that you can do to relieve your symptoms. Read on to learn more from your McAllen ENTs. If your symptoms persist or get worse, reach out to your sinus specialist for help.
This one might seem like a no-brainer, but it can be easy to forget how many elements can impact your allergies throughout your day. Stay inside on especially windy days and steer clear of any outdoor work that can start your sinuses running.
Even if you’re staying inside, be sure to close your windows completely, especially if the pollen count is high that day. You want to maintain clean air in your personal space and not leave any room for outside allergens to work their way in.
For quick congestion relief, use a gentle nasal spray to effectively clean out mucus buildup and irritants from your nasal passages. If you have thicker buildup, saline spray is a major game-changer.
If you don’t have saline or any other nasal spray on hand, take a warm shower and breathe in the steam. This will gently loosen up any stubborn debris and work to relieve persistent sinus pressure. Laying a warm compress on your face afterward will also help to open up your sinuses.
The recommendation to drink plenty of fluids when you’re feeling under the weather is a common one, but for good reason. Staying hydrated not only flushes toxins out of the body but also works to combat high histamine levels. These histamines would otherwise trigger allergy-like symptoms.
Be as consistent as you can with your water intake. Challenge yourself to drink plenty of water even after allergy season. To boost your cells’ absorption levels and overall bodily functions, load up on essential electrolytes! These can be found in store-bought drinks like Pedialyte or Gatorade.
While staying inside is beneficial to keeping allergy triggers at bay, it can come with its own side effects. From dust mites to pet dander, your indoor air can be permeated with invisible allergens. The good news is that these allergens can be dramatically reduced.
Make it a point to change out your air filters about every 90 days. This helps ensure that you have clearer air to breath. Also, be sure to take the time to clean your space from the ground up. Start with a thorough vacuum or sweep, then wipe down surfaces (especially fan blades) with a multi surface cleaner. Decluttering in general is also key to cutting out places for dust to gather.
If you’re a pro at seasonal allergies, you can probably gauge when symptoms seem off-balance. If your allergies don’t get any better or get worse, consider making an appointment with your ENT. This can help you ensure that any issues are caught before they can become more severe and harder to treat.
Your local ear, nose and throat specialists at the Glatz Group can help you get through this season by alleviating your allergy symptoms or other sinus issues. Reach out to us today for a consultation, and get one step closer to taking control of your seasonal allergies.
Enlarged turbinates block air from passing freely through your nose, making it difficult to breathe, sleep, and function. This makes it necessary to reduce the size of your turbinates and clear the nasal passages, allowing for easier breathing.
This procedure is known as turbinate reduction.
Before having this procedure, many people like to weigh its pros and cons to determine if it is worth having. Learn what the benefits of turbinate reduction are from your McAllen sinus specialists at Glatz Group of Valley ENT.
Turbinate reduction, also referred to as turbinate surgery, is a procedure where the nasal turbinates, the fleshy structures inside your nose, are examined and reduced in size to allow air to flow freely through the nasal passages.
When performed, this surgical procedure usually goes inside the nostril on both sides of the nose and takes under 10 minutes to complete.
Whether it’s the amount of recovery time or the quality of life, these factors play a big role when patients decide to go forward with the procedure. A few pros are:
Although this procedure is done under general anesthesia, it is still an outpatient procedure, meaning you will get to go home the same day. Having an outpatient procedure also means that the recovery time is faster and you will be able to return to work in a few days.
Once performed, turbinate reduction will clear your nasal passageway, allowing you to breathe better at night. Sleep apnea is a common reason for getting this procedure and many find that their sleep is no longer disrupted after.
If your turbinates are swollen, it can result in pain or pressure in your head along with frequent headaches. After the procedure is done, the turbinates are no longer the cause of pain and pressure, which can lessen the chance of your headaches.
Another side effect of swollen turbinates is a stuffy nose. Once the turbinate reduction is done, the sinuses will be cleared, making it easier for air to flow through and improving your breathing.
With every procedure, there are bound to be side effects. Patients will often choose to move forward with the procedure if the pros outweigh the cons or the cons are manageable.
Some cons of turbinate reduction include:
If you have to have the whole turbinate removed, you will be unable to feel air passing through your nasal passages, resulting in the feeling of an empty nose. In cases such as this one, there is no treatment for it.
Depending on the case, some may have frequent drying and crusting of the nose. This can often be solved by using humidifiers, sea salt and saline nasal rinses, and avoiding caffeine.
The dryness that sometimes occurs can result in a greater number of nosebleeds. This can also be treated with the use of humidifiers and nasal rinses.
Although these side effects can happen after a procedure, they can often be avoided by seeing a physician who is board-certified in turbinate reduction.
Once it is confirmed that you have enlarged turbinates, our Physician Assistant (PA), Jonathan Lerma, who is certified through Medtronic in turbinate reduction, will perform one of the following procedures to reduce the size of your turbinates.
After each procedure, fatigue, nasal stuffiness, and mild drainage are to be expected. Because Jonathan Lerma is certified in this procedure, he and our team of sinus relief specialists will be able to walk you through each procedure and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
If you are suffering from the effects of swollen or enlarged turbinates, it may be time to schedule a turbinate reduction.
Make an appointment with Jonathan Lerma and our team of sinus relief specialists today to discuss your treatment options.
