Can’t Breathe Through Your Nose?
Tired of being a mouth breather?
Difficulty breathing through the nose is a common complaint.
Our goal is to provide you with the best possible nasal airway so you can breathe with ease.
Testimonials
“Had a septoplasty with massive turbinate reduction. Couldn’t be happier with the end result. Can breathe great through both nostrils and quality of life has increased tenfold.”
Jonathin K.
“Went to Dr Sana for, what I thought, was a deviated septum. Had trouble breathing through my nose. He actually had to remove cartilage. Surgery went well and was a fairly quick recovery time. Dr Sana is pretty cool and he has an excellent staff. Highly recommend you check him out if you need an ENT.”
Wes J.
“Dr Sana got down to business after long-term breathing through my mouth – he performed my nose surgery to perfection providing much relief to my issues. I highly recommend Dr Sana – very knowledgeable and articulate in his explanations!”
Laurie K.
“I saw Dr. Sana to correct a deviated septum and address symptoms of snoring/sleep apnea. Surgery went very smoothly with much less discomfort than I was told to expect. Recovery was brief and I was back to full activity in about 2 weeks. I can breathe easily for the first time in decades and snoring is significantly reduced. I can’t recommend Dr. Sana strongly enough for not only the positive surgical outcome but also for the compassionate and professional manner in which he provides care.”
Joe C.
“Great experience. Great results from surgery. Thankful to be breathing freely with open sinuses again. Thanks Dr. Sana!”
Nolan S.
Causes of Nasal Obstruction
If difficulty breathing through your nose is not responding to medications, there is likely a structural issue that is the underlying problem – often a deviated septum or enlargement of nasal turbinates.
Deviated Septum
The wall between your nasal passages is called the septum. When it is displaced to one side rather than centered, it is referred to as a deviated septum. When one nasal passage is narrowed, it can result in difficulty breathing through the nose. This deviation may cause several additional problems for the patient including nosebleeds, headaches, ear infections, and sinus infections.
When treatments, such as decongestants or antihistamines don’t relieve nasal obstruction, you may need surgery. The surgical repair of a deviated septum is called septoplasty.
Surgical straightening of the nasal septum is performed while the patient is asleep under general anesthesia. Although your septum is repositioned to correct this problem, it won’t cure other issues with sinuses or allergies.
Turbinate Hypertrophy
Nasal turbinates are normal structures within the nose – there are three turbinates on each lateral wall. They are thin bones shaped like scrolls and are covered by tissue with a rich blood supply. They are often called the radiators of the nose, as the tissue adjusts its thickness under varying atmospheric conditions to warm air, moisten it and filter it.
In response to untreated allergies and chronic inflammation, they may enlarge in size and can contribute to the problems by decreasing nasal airspace – termed turbinate hypertrophy. This results in the sensation that you can’t breathe through your nose.
When medical management does not resolve the nasal obstruction, surgery may be necessary. Often a septoplasty is combined with an inferior turbinate reduction.
Nasal Valve Collapse
Occasionally the sidewalls near the tip of the nose may collapse with breathing, preventing air from getting into the nose in the first place. Patients often complain that they can’t breathe through their nose. This is often a structural issue that requires surgical intervention – a procedure can be done in the office to remodel the walls to improve breathing.