Can you drink alcohol with enlarged turbinates?

Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
Updated on December 09, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
1min 5sec home-news-image

Is massage effective for enlarged turbinates?

Turbinate hypertrophy is a common clinical symptom of the turbinates. Generally speaking, the effect of treating turbinate hypertrophy through massage is not good, because it is difficult for massage to directly affect the inside of the nasal cavity, and there is no direct impact and effect on the hypertrophy of the turbinates. The first step in addressing turbinate hypertrophy is to examine the causes and the extent of the enlargement. If the enlargement is mild and there are no obvious clinical symptoms, it is generally advised to regularly review and observe changes. However, if the turbinate hypertrophy is more pronounced and accompanied by related clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and reduced sense of smell, it is necessary to perform a nasopharyngoscope examination to investigate the specific causes of the condition. Treatment typically involves oral medications and nasal sprays, and regular check-ups are also necessary. (Please follow the guidance of a specialist doctor for specific medications and do not self-medicate.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
54sec home-news-image

Can nasal spray reduce the swelling of enlarged turbinates?

Enlarged nasal turbinates are a relatively common clinical presentation, mainly considered to be related to physiological enlargement. It could also be due to chronic rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, or sinusitis. Initially, it is necessary to examine the specific clinical symptoms. If it is just simple enlargement without causing obvious clinical symptoms, this condition generally may not require special treatment; regular follow-ups and observation of the condition's changes are advised. If it causes related clinical manifestations, such as nasal congestion and runny nose, then medication treatment should be considered, commonly using nasal spray medications. Most patients will gradually see a reduction in the enlargement of the nasal turbinates and improvement in clinical symptoms after using the spray. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 15sec home-news-image

Can you eat chili peppers with enlarged turbinates?

People with enlarged nasal turbinates should avoid eating spicy peppers, as they are considered irritants. Consumption of spicy peppers can worsen the enlargement of nasal turbinates, leading to persistent nasal congestion. For enlarged nasal turbinates, it is necessary to visit a hospital and undergo examination with an electronic nasoscope to determine the cause. Generally, this condition is caused by chronic rhinitis or chronic allergic rhinitis. Enlargement of the nasal turbinates typically leads to symptoms such as persistent and progressive bilateral nasal congestion, swelling sensation in the nasal cavity, foreign body sensation, facial swelling, pain, headache, and the discharge of abnormal mucous secretions from the nasal cavity. In terms of treatment, initial management of enlarged nasal turbinates can involve the use of nebulized inhalation to shrink the turbinates and relieve nasal congestion. Regular physical exercise can also help restore the function of the nasal mucosa. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical removal of parts of the lower turbinates on both sides may be required to completely cure the condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
54sec home-news-image

Is surgery necessary for enlarged nasal turbinates?

Patients with enlarged turbinates do not necessarily need surgical treatment. The causes of turbinate hypertrophy are mainly related to long-term smoking and drinking, catching colds, as well as allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinitis. Patients experience turbinate growth, which affects nasal ventilation. Some patients may suffer from alternating nasal congestion, and in cases of significant enlargement, such as snoring and air holding during sleep at night, or complete nasal ventilation obstruction, surgical methods such as turbinate ablation or inferior turbinate fracture and outward movement surgery may be necessary to expand the nasal airflow. For general turbinate hypertrophy, patients can use hormone-based nasal sprays to relieve nasal mucosa swelling and thickening. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
48sec home-news-image

What are the causes of nasal turbinate hypertrophy?

Turbinate hypertrophy is a relatively common otorhinolaryngological disease, and there are many causes for turbinate hypertrophy. Some of it is physiological hypertrophy, which is simply thickening of the turbinate tissue without causing noticeable clinical symptoms. In general, this situation does not require special treatment, but regular follow-ups are necessary. It may also result from acute rhinitis, chronic rhinitis, or sinusitis, which can lead to turbinate hypertrophy with associated clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, reduced sense of smell, headaches, and dizziness. In such cases, pharmacological treatment should be considered, commonly involving oral medications and nasal sprays, with regular follow-ups to monitor recovery.