If you've been congested for months with no clear cause, your turbinates could be the reason. Take the 90-second self-test below to see whether your symptoms point to enlarged turbinates.
Take the QuizTurbinates are small, shelf-like structures inside your nose that warm, humidify, and filter the air you breathe. When they become swollen or enlarged — whether from allergies, chronic irritation, or in compensation for a deviated septum on the opposite side — they can block airflow much the same way a deviated septum does, which is why the two conditions are so often confused with each other.
Answer yes or no to each question below.
Please answer all 8 questions to see your results.
Enlarged turbinates often get confused with a deviated septum, nasal allergies, or chronic sinusitis, and it's common to have more than one of these at once, since the body often enlarges the turbinates on one side to compensate for a deviated septum on the other. If you've already taken our deviated septum self-test and it pointed toward a deviation, enlarged turbinates may be part of the same picture.
Mild cases often respond well to treating the underlying cause: allergy management, nasal steroid sprays, or reducing exposure to irritants. When turbinate swelling becomes chronic and doesn't respond to medical treatment, turbinate reduction is a minimally invasive procedure that reduces turbinate size while preserving their function, typically performed under local anesthesia in under an hour. It's sometimes combined with septoplasty when both conditions are contributing to nasal blockage.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Zadeh to find out what's really behind your congestion.
Common causes include allergies, chronic sinus inflammation, irritant exposure, hormonal changes, and compensation for a deviated septum on the opposite side of the nose.
Yes, in many cases. When hypertrophy is driven by allergies or temporary irritation, treating the underlying cause with medication or allergy management can reduce swelling. Long-term, chronic swelling is less likely to resolve without treatment.
Most patients report mild discomfort and congestion for a week or two rather than significant pain. The procedure itself is minimally invasive and usually done under local anesthesia.
Diagnosis starts with a physical exam and symptom history, sometimes followed by a nasal endoscopy to get a clear view of the turbinates and surrounding structures.
Yes. Since enlarged turbinates and a deviated septum frequently occur together, Dr. Zadeh often performs turbinate reduction alongside septoplasty to address both issues in a single recovery period.
