Can turbinate hypertrophy be left untreated?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on January 18, 2025
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Turbinate hypertrophy is a relatively common otolaryngological condition. In terms of treatment, it is first necessary to consider the specific cause and severity of the condition. If it is merely physiological turbinate hypertrophy without significant clinical symptoms, this situation generally can be managed with observation, and regular nasopharyngoscopy check-ups to monitor the recovery process.

If the turbinate hypertrophy causes related clinical symptoms, such as nasal congestion, reduced sense of smell, headaches, and dizziness, then it is necessary to visit an otolaryngologist. Nasopharyngoscopy will generally be conducted, and treatment will typically include oral medications and nasal sprays, with regular check-ups to observe the treatment effects.

(Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor)

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 1sec home-news-image

The harmfulness of enlarged turbinates

Enlarged turbinates are generally caused by chronic rhinitis. This enlargement can lead to bilateral nasal obstruction, causing persistent hypoxia in patients, leading to a decline in heart, lung, and brain functions. Over time, this can result in high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, arteriosclerosis, and other related diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to treat enlarged turbinates. Patients need to first undergo an examination with an electronic nasal endoscope to determine the cause of the enlargement. If it is due to chronic rhinitis, the patient may need to undergo a local surgical resection, such as endoscopic bilateral inferior turbinate partial resection. If the enlargement is due to a deviated nasal septum or nasal polyps, treatment of the primary condition is also needed, which could involve corrective surgery for the deviated septum and removal of the nasal polyps, after which the enlarged turbinates can gradually return to normal.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Does nasal turbinate hypertrophy easily cause nosebleeds?

If we are only talking about simple hypertrophy of the turbinates, it generally does not easily lead to nosebleeds. Enlarged turbinates might cause nasal congestion, runny nose, and could also lead to a decreased sense of smell, headaches, or dizziness, but some patients may not have obvious clinical symptoms and are only discovered during a physical examination. Therefore, patients with turbinate hypertrophy need to seek consultation at an otolaryngology department after experiencing relevant clinical symptoms. Examinations such as nasal endoscopy, routine blood tests, and sinus CT scans can be helpful in assessing the specific severity of the condition and the cause of the disease. Once diagnosed, targeted treatment can be administered and regular follow-ups are required to monitor the treatment effects.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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What can be done to alleviate the difficulty in breathing caused by enlarged turbinates?

Breathing difficulties caused by hypertrophic turbinates can initially be managed with corticosteroids via nebulization. Additionally, massaging the Yingxiang acupoints on the outer sides of both nostrils can constrict the turbinates and quickly alleviate nasal congestion to ease breathing difficulties. Patients also need to undergo detailed examination at the hospital using an endoscopic camera and sinus CT to determine the cause of the turbinate hypertrophy. Turbinate hypertrophy generally results from symptoms caused by chronic rhinitis or chronic allergic rhinitis, leading to persistent bilateral nasal congestion in patients. This is also accompanied by a foreign body sensation in the nose, swelling, and the discharge of mucous nasal fluid. For treatment, symptomatic anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy therapy should initially be administered. If conservative treatments are ineffective, a partial turbinectomy on both sides may be necessary.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Will turbinates that have been removed grow back?

Enlarged turbinates primarily refer to the enlargement of the inferior turbinates, and in rare cases, the middle and superior turbinates may also become enlarged. Clinically, the enlargement of the inferior turbinates is mainly caused by various chronic inflammatory stimuli in the nasal area, leading to nasal congestion, impaired secretion of nasal mucus, and even symptoms such as headaches in patients. Clinically, for turbinates, minimally invasive treatment methods are mainly used, such as plasma volume reduction surgery and submucosal partial resection of the inferior turbinates. Generally speaking, once the turbinates are removed, they cannot regrow; only the surface mucosa can regrow, but the turbinate bone cannot regrow. Therefore, after the removal of the turbinates, there is a significant increase in the spaciousness of the nasal cavity, which is beneficial for improving the patient's symptoms of nasal congestion.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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Can you drink alcohol with enlarged turbinates?

It is best not to drink alcohol if you have enlarged turbinates, as alcohol can stimulate the dilation of blood vessels, leading to congestion and swelling of the turbinates, which in turn exacerbates nasal congestion symptoms. Enlarged turbinates are just a clinical presentation, not a disease. The most common cause of enlarged turbinates in clinical settings is chronic rhinitis. Chronic rhinitis results from repeated acute inflammatory stimuli, causing congestion, swelling, and hyperplasia of the turbinate mucosa. Patients may experience bilateral nasal congestion that progressively worsens and may also have abnormal secretions in the nasal cavity. During an examination with an electronic rhinoscope, pronounced congestion and swelling in both middle and lower turbinates can be observed, sometimes showing mulberry-like changes on the surface. For treatment, patients may need to undergo a partial inferior turbinectomy, which requires hospitalization, and recovery is typically about one week before discharge.