Nasal blockage is that feeling of having air flow that is reduced thru either one nostril – unilateral or both nostrils – bilateral. This nasal blockage can have many causes. It is appropriate to divide these causes into those that are treated medically and causes that necessitate treatment with surgery. Medical causes consist of common cold caused by a virus, bacterial sinusitis, and sensitivity to dust, allergies, smoke, pollution as well as other irritants.

Surgical treatment include abnormalities anatomically such as a deviated septum, nasal polyps, sinuses that are obstructed and does not improve with medication, obstructing adenoids, over-enlarged turbinates, and other causes. Sometimes, scarring from prior surgery or some nasal trauma may also create nasal obstruction.

The nose is an organ that is complex and gives individuals a passage for breathing, humidifying and warming air, allows us to smell and provides a passageway for sinus drainage. Any or all of the structural factors of the nose can get blocked and cause various symptoms, including breathing that is blocked, pressure in the sinuses and headaches, loss of taste and smell, snoring, congestion as well as sinus drainage. Because of this, any chronic nasal obstruction needs to be evaluated by an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) specialist.