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Got a question? Ask the specialist
Q. I have been suffering from a blocked nose, more so when I lie down to sleep or rest. My right nostril gets blocked when I lie down on my left side, and when I am on my right side, my left nostril gets blocked. For this reason, I tend to breathe through my mouth and use only one nostril. As a result, I have been snoring. Is this because of my slightly larger left nostril? Also, I noticed that my tonsils are not the same size – the right one is slightly larger than the left.
A. There can be several causes for nasal obstruction. It is not unusual for one side of the nose to be slightly blocked compared to the other side. When the blockage alternates between the two sides, it is likely to be due to the unequal flow of blood through the nasal tissue between the two sides. This is termed the ‘nasal cycle’. The duration of the nasal cycle may vary from 20 minutes to two hours. In some individuals, the nasal cycle may be aggravated by environmental and emotional factors.
Postural nasal obstruction during sleep, especially when lying on one side is not uncommon too. It results from more blood fl owing through the dependent side of the nose. But rarely is the nasal cycle bad enough for one to resort to mouth breathing. Breathing through one’s mouth is not natural and often results from severe nasal obstruction, the causes of which are plentiful. If one is a habitual mouth breather, it is important to consult an ENT specialist.
As for tonsil enlargement, it is acceptable to have a slight asymmetry between the two tonsils. However, if one tonsil is considerably larger than the other, then further investigations are necessary. Snoring associated with enlarged tonsils may cause ‘obstructive sleep apnoea’ which may be detrimental to health. If you are snoring, having a disturbed sleep pattern, waking up frequently at night, feel tired and fatigued during the day, then you need further investigation.
Associate Professor D S Sethi,
Senior Consultant, Department of Otolaryngology (ENT), SGH.
Ref: Y07 |
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