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Roxanne: If you have sinus problems, you may feel a nasal blockage, but there are other
conditions as well. Dr. Daniel Ganc of Boca Raton Community Hospital joins us this afternoon
to answer your questions. Thank you so much for your time today.
Daniel Ganc, MD: Thanks for having me on. Roxanne: What is a nasal obstruction or blockage?
Daniel Ganc, MD: Nasal obstruction or blockage is the feeling that you can't breathe, either
out of one side of your nose or out of both sides of the nose.
Roxanne: What are some of the causes? Daniel Ganc, MD: The most likely common causes
of this nasal obstruction are allergies, actually more likely than that is infections, which
are mostly viral. Most of the time these go away on their own but sometimes they can progress
into a bacterial or other infection. Other causes are polyps, or rarely there could be
a small growth causing nasal obstruction. Roxanne: When do you know though, it's the
same feeling though from whether it's an allergy or a polyp so when would you know to see a
doctor? Daniel Ganc, MD: What I would recommend is
general, what we call general conservative treatment, would be things like spraying saline
sprays or rinses into your nose and trying possibly some over the counter medications
or antihistamines. Roxanne: If it doesn't work?
Daniel Ganc, MD: If the symptoms aren't going away then come see a doctor. Most of the causes
of nasal obstruction are very, very common but there can be some unusual ones that you
definitely want to make sure to see your doctor about.
Roxanne: Another question about deviated septum, starting with what is it? A person wants to
know, "Do I actually have one?" What is it and what are some of the symptoms?
Daniel Ganc, MD: A septum is the dividing line between the left and the right sides
of the nose. Everybody has a little bit of waviness to their septum, but a deviated septum
causes problems is one in which from most likely a little trauma at some point that
you may not even have realized, you lose the ability to breathe well out of one side of
your nose. The most common treatment is again, just using
saline rinses, but sometimes they need to be surgically corrected if the septum is really
bothersome to the person. Roxanne: Once again, you find out through
... Daniel Ganc, MD: Through either failure of
trying something at home that works, over the counter medications and going to see your
general doctor or ears, nose and throat doctor. Roxanne: Sinusitis. We're getting a variety
of questions about everything that you deal with on a daily basis. What is it and how
is it treated? Daniel Ganc, MD: Sinusitis is a general term
for inflammation of the nose and sinus cavity. Most of the time this starts by an instigating
factor like a viral infection. Sometimes allergies can be a part of that. Then the small openings
to the sinuses usually become clogged, and that can cause pressure and pain in the face.
Occasionally it can cause bacteria or fungus to grow in those sinuses and can cause even
worsening infection and pain. Roxanne: Now that we've covered a lot of territory
with blockages, let's go back to some of them like polyps when you talked about an allergy
or something. Is a polyp always not dangerous or can they be cancerous, is what this caller
want to know? Daniel Ganc, MD: Polyps in and of themselves
are by definition noncancerous, but the sensation of polyps can be actually caused by small
growths that can be cancerous but it's very rare. Most of the time, they're not a cancerous
phenomenon. Roxanne: We'll end on that note. Thank you
Dr. Ganc so much for your time. Daniel Ganc, MD: Thank you.
Roxanne: Boca Raton Community Hospital sponsors our experts and is also the sponsor of "Ask
the Doctor". Back with more in just a moment.