A feeling of blocked nasal passages can be an alarming symptom, indicating the development of serious medical conditions. Some of them have nothing to do with the functioning of the respiratory system. Obstruction (obstruction) of the airways can be the result of hormonal disorders, irrational intake of vasodilators, poor environmental situation, etc.
Causes
The nasopharynx is a complex organ that performs the function of a filter in the body. Passing through the nasal passages, the air is not only cleared of foreign objects, but also warmed up. High-quality cleaning of air masses occurs only due to the complex organization of the internal space in the ENT organs.
Severe nasal congestion is often caused by inflammation of the mucous membranes that cover the respiratory tract. Abnormal processes in the respiratory organs stimulate the secretion of mucus, which is designed to moisturize tissues and evacuate dust, allergens, bacteria, etc. from the airways. Swelling of the mucous membranes leads to a narrowing of the lumen in the nasal passages, which is why a person cannot breathe normally.
Conventionally, all the reasons leading to nasal congestion are divided into two categories:
- anatomical - injuries and deformations of anatomical structures in the nasal cavity (accessory sinuses, nasal septum);
- functional - inflammation of the mucous membranes and blockage of the respiratory tract with mucus, which creates an obstacle to the passage of air.
Persistent nasal congestion in an adult is an alarming sign that may indicate the development of diseases of the ENT spectrum, endocrine and autoimmune disorders. The popular complaint of patients "I can't breathe normally through my nose" can be of both infectious and non-infectious origins. In case of persistent obstruction (obstruction) of the airways, it is necessary to consult an ENT specialist and undergo a full-fledged hardware examination.
Chronic diseases
Inflammation of the ENT organs is one of the most common causes of obstruction of the nasal passages. Nasal congestion is caused by inflammation either in the nasal cavity or in the paranasal sinuses. Chronic diseases practically do not manifest themselves in any way, so a person cannot understand for a long time why his nose is not breathing and how to cope with it.
Infectious rhinitis
Chronic (sluggish) rhinitis is a persistent inflammation of the ENT organs, accompanied by edema, moderate mucus formation and difficulty breathing. Pathogenic microbes, fungus, protozoa, etc. can provoke the development of rhinitis. An unpleasant symptom accompanies a number of infectious diseases:
- nasopharyngitis;
- flu;
- tonsillitis;
- measles;
- diphtheria.
Sluggish inflammation in the nasal cavity is fraught with hyposmia - a persistent loss of smell.
In chronic inflammation, the sinuses thicken, which inevitably leads to narrowing of the airways. The mucus formed in the nasopharynx quickly thickens and therefore clogs the choanas - the holes that are located on the back wall of the nasopharynx. This condition leads to obstruction of the nasal passages, which makes it difficult to breathe normally.
Allergic rhinitis
Many people ask the question "why can't I breathe freely through my nose?" There may be several reasons for this, but if the feeling of congestion worsens upon contact with irritating substances, an allergic reaction could cause obstruction of the nasopharynx. Periodic disturbance of nasal breathing occurs due to an inadequate response of the immune system to irritants. The provocateurs of unwanted processes in the nose can be:
- pungent odors;
- dust mites;
- woolen things;
- plant pollen;
- spores of fungi.
If your nasal congestion persists within 2–3 weeks, it is most likely due to the development of allergic rhinitis. With an exacerbation of the disease, lacrimation, sneezing, transparent nasal discharge, itching, etc. If the inflammation was caused by flowering plants, the congestion will go away on its own over time. However, allergens can be not only the pollen of wind-pollinated plants, but also quite ordinary things - washing powder, perfume smell, house dust, etc.
It is impossible to cure a year-round allergic rhinitis, but during periods of exacerbation of the disease, doctors recommend using antihistamines. They will relieve nasal congestion and help eliminate inflammation in the nasopharynx. If the manifestations of the disease are not stopped in time, the inflammation will become chronic.
Vasomotor rhinitis
Narrowing of the airways, provoked by a violation of the tone of the blood vessels in the mucous membranes of the ENT organs, often leads to nasal congestion. This condition is called vasomotor or neurogenic rhinitis. The disease develops due to a violation of the neuro-reflex mechanisms of reaction to the effects of irritating factors:
- Strong smell;
- low temperatures;
- gassed air.
Chronic vasomotor rhinitis can lead to bronchial obstruction and the development of asthma.
Patients with vasomotor rhinitis find it difficult to breathe through the nose, mainly in the morning. During an attack, the mucous membrane swells, which causes lacrimation, sneezing, transparent nasal discharge, etc. Very often, the disease is exacerbated by a sharp change in air temperature. It is almost impossible to eliminate the manifestations of the disease with the help of vasoconstrictor drugs, since the pathology itself is characterized by a violation of the process of regulation of vascular tone.
Anatomical defects
In cases where the nose is stuffy and mucus is not blown out, it is worth considering the likelihood of anatomical abnormalities in the intranasal structures. In this case, the difficulty in breathing is not caused by inflammation or accumulated nasal secretion, but by neoplasms or septal defects.Hypertrophy of the turbinates
Inside the nasopharynx there are 3 pairs of turbinates, which are bone cavities covered with ciliated epithelium. During sluggish inflammation, the sinuses are injured, which can cause hypertrophy (proliferation) of tissue structures. The pineal formations that appear in the nasopharynx create insurmountable barriers to the air, which is why the nose does not subsequently breathe.
If at the doctor's appointment the patient talks about his complaints and claims that “I speak through the nose”, but no vasoconstrictor drugs help, the specialist may suspect hypertrophy of the turbinates. In addition to nasal congestion, the development of pathology is accompanied by:
- nasal voice;
- ear plugging;
- profuse nasal discharge;
- headache;
- decreased sense of smell.
If the nose does not breathe due to hypertrophy of the mucous membranes, delayed treatment can lead to deformation of the nasal septum and paranasal sinuses.
Choan atresia
Why does nothing help treat nasal obstruction? If, even with the use of pharmaceuticals, nasal breathing is not restored, most likely, the cause of the disorders is not associated with edema or inflammation. The nasal passages can be blocked due to the proliferation of soft and cartilaginous tissues in the choans, i.e.internal nostrils.
A persistently stuffy nose is the basis of a symptom indicating the development of choanal atresia. Choanas are small openings that are located at the back of the nasal cavity. With their help, the pharynx communicates with the nasal cavity. If the choanal opening is clogged with mucus or tissue structures, air cannot enter the lower respiratory system.
Choanal atresia often develops against the background of syphilitic rhinitis, lupus erythematosus, measles or diphtheria.
The reasons for the development of pathology can be both congenital and acquired. Most often, a stuffy nose is due to serious intracranial injuries or a burn of the nasopharynx. During tissue healing, the airways become scarred, making it difficult for patients to breathe through the nose. To cope with this pathology is possible only through surgery. Correction of atresia of the choanal openings consists in resection (excision) of tissues blocking the airways.
Deformation of the nasal septum
The nasal septum is a small plate that divides the nose into two equal halves. Deviation of the osteochondral plate from the median position leads to impaired nasal breathing. Due to the severe deformation of the septum, patients have bad nose breathing, face swelling, severe headaches, etc.
The main reasons for the deviation of the septum from the normal position include:
- hypertrophy of the turbinates;
- nasal polyps;
- fractures of the nose;
- uneven growth of cartilage tissue;
- benign and malignant tumors.
If, during an injury, the bone-cartilaginous plate cleans up the S-shape, the nose generally ceases to function normally.
Pathology most often occurs in athletes and people working in high-risk enterprises. It is possible to eliminate the curvature in the septum only by a surgical method during septoplasty.
Tumors
A blocked nose may be due to a nasopharyngeal neoplasm. In the process of tumor growth, they practically do not cause discomfort, therefore, for a long time, patients are in no hurry to visit a doctor and find out “why I speak in my nose and cannot breathe normally”.Nasal polyp
Nasal polyps are growths of the mucous membrane that most commonly occur in the sinuses. Chronic rhinitis, hay fever and other diseases accompanied by sluggish inflammation of soft tissues can provoke the development of pathology. Often, polyps are localized in the maxillary sinuses, so the disease is often accompanied by sinusitis.
Due to the blockage of the nasal canals by tumors, patients try to blow their nose harder in order to clear the nasopharynx of accumulated mucus. Such attempts often lead to discomfort in the bridge of the nose and obstructed ears. If the nose is clogged not with mucous secretions, but with a nasal polyp, the development of the disease will be indicated by:
- loss of smell;
- frequent recurrences of sinusitis;
- headache;
- a feeling of pressure in the maxillary sinuses;
- persistent violation of nasal breathing.
Chronic sinusitis, cystic fibrosis, hay fever and nasal mastocytosis are pathologies that often precede the formation of polyps in the paranasal sinuses.
Adenoid vegetation
Adenoids (adenoid vegetation) - hypertrophy (proliferation) of the pharyngeal tonsil, which causes a violation of nasal breathing. Most often, pathology is diagnosed in children under 7-8 years of age. The growth of the tonsil is often promoted by infectious diseases - measles, scarlet fever, tonsillitis, rhinopharyngitis, etc.
If the child has not only a very stuffy nose, but also purulent discharge appears, this may indicate an inflammation of the nasopharyngeal tonsil.
With 1 degree of proliferation of a hypertrophied tonsil, treatment is carried out with the help of medicines. If the tumor blocks 2/3 of the nasal passages, it is surgically removed.
Other reasons
There are many reasons why the nasopharynx can become clogged with mucus. Not all of them are associated with the development of serious pathologies, tumors and allergies. According to practical observations, breathing difficulties most often occur for the following reasons:
- Foreign body in the nasal cavity. Preschool children often put various small objects in the nasal passages - seeds, balls, buttons, beads, etc. Foreign bodies clog the airways, as a result of which nasal breathing is impaired;
- Unfavorable ecology. Dry air, exhaust gases and chemical molecules entering the respiratory tract cause inflammation and swelling of the mucous membranes. Because of this, she begins to produce more viscous secretion, which clogs the choanas;
- Inappropriate use of drugs. Very often, edema of the mucous membranes is provoked by hormonal drugs and vasodilators. Drug abuse leads to a decrease in vascular tone, as a result of which the soft tissues in the nasopharynx swell. Airway obstruction inevitably leads to the feeling that the nose is clogged with mucus.
Prolonged breathing difficulties are good reasons for seeking help from an otolaryngologist. Obstruction of the nasopharynx causes nasal mucus to drain into the sinuses. Subsequently, this can cause tissue inflammation and the development of sinusitis.
Conclusion
Difficulty nasal breathing is a sign of the development of more than 30 types of infectious and non-infectious pathologies. Obstruction of the nasal passages is often caused by inflammation and swelling of the tissues, which obstructs the flow of air into the bronchi and trachea. Inflammatory reactions in the nasal cavity accompany the development of neurovegetative and allergic rhinitis, nasopharyngitis, sinusitis, etc.
If there is no nasal discharge when breathing is impaired, this may signal the formation of tumors in the nasopharynx. Most often, ENT doctors diagnose nasal polyps, adenoid vegetations, fibromas and angiomas. It is not always possible to independently find out the cause of nasal congestion, therefore, in case of persistent respiratory failure, it is worth seeking help from a specialist.
