The ability to breathe well through the nose is vital for both health and quality of life, and restoring proper airflow requires a skillful hand. At Hampton Roads ENT~Allergy, experienced specialists can perform a variety of functional nasal surgeries to correct common obstructions such as septal deviation, interior turbinate hypertrophy, nasal valve collapse and nasal polyps.
“We can achieve just the right balance of airflow, based on fluid dynamics studies,” says Jared Christophel, M.D., MPH, FACS, an otolaryngologist. “We’ve learned that air needs to pass through all the tiny nooks of the nose to be properly warmed, humidified and filtered.” Resolving disorders of the nose, the first organ of the respiratory system, is a central service at HamptonRoads ENT~Allergy.
The 20-year-old practice provides comprehensive care for ENT conditions, sleep concerns, specific types of allergies and facial/plastic reconstructive surgery needs. Physicians also offer nonsurgical interventions for impaired nasal breathing, such as nose and sinus cones and mediations for allergic rhinitis. Steroid sprays, antihistamine sprays and oral decongestants or steroids all target nasal lining swelling triggered by allergens, chemical or physical irritants, temperature changes, sinus infections or unknown causes. Additionally, Hampton Roads ENT~Allergy sees patients with nasal fractures, nosebleeds and loss of smell.
Human beings inhale and exhale about 25,000 times a day but have “de-evolved” to breathe less through their noses and more through their mouths, according to the influential 2020 book “Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art” by journalist James Nestor. One theory is that as people have eaten more processed food, less frequent chewing has impacted bone development in the mid-face and jaw. Another is the better-known “hygiene theory” as a cause of increased rates of allergic rhinitis and respiratory tract infections.
Anatomical changes that hinder the nose’s normal function appear to be risk factors for multiple negative medical consequences, such as high blood pressure, sleep disturbances and snoring, and greater vulnerability to viral or bacterial infections. Specialists once thought of functional nasal surgery only as a way of opening the nose as much as possible. However, they did not understand that if the internal space is too large and air flows too freely – without proper resistance – nose function remains impaired. The organ also can’t produce enough mucus and becomes painfully dry. Therefore, radiofrequency turbinate reduction, as well as any cosmetic corrections, must be done with functionality in mind. Dr. Christophel notes, “The form and function of the nose is highly related. We always need to consider the impact of a procedure on breathing.”
In recent months, our physicians have successfully treated cases of loss of smell, and therefore taste, due to the COVID-19 virus. Therapeutic options are steroid sinus irrigation and smell retraining therapy, a gradual process that aims to use memories of various aromas to rewire signals to the brain from nerve fibers likely injured by the virus. “The nose is truly one of the most complex organs in the body,” Dr. Christophel says. “Our practice is committed to correcting any issues that interfere with its work to keep people healthy.”