Ms. Lien, a 27-year-old woman, had been experiencing strange sounds in her ears that resembled breathing. She believed she had tinnitus and visited a doctor for help. After examining her, the doctor discovered that she had hypertrophy of the lower nasal turbinate, which was causing obstruction in her nose and ears.
The doctor explained to Ms. Lien that the breathing sounds she was hearing were due to the enlarged turbinate causing blockage. Inferior turbinate hypertrophy is when the inferior turbinate grows excessively, leading to nasal congestion and difficulty breathing through the nose. While this condition is rare, it can cause symptoms such as hearing breathing sounds in the ears and tinnitus.
Ms. Lien’s symptoms included nasal congestion, postnasal drip, dry cough, difficulty breathing through the nose, mouth breathing while sleeping, and snoring before surgery was performed to reconstruct her lower nasal turbinate. The doctor used nasal drops to reduce hypertrophy temporarily but provided relief for Ms. Lien’s symptoms.
After surgery to correct her condition, Ms. Lien no longer experienced tinnitus with her breathing sounds in her ears. It is important for patients with similar symptoms related to their nose, sinuses, and ears to seek medical attention from an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist promptly to prevent complications associated with conditions like inferior turbinate hypertrophy.
Turbinate hypertrophy if left untreated can lead to persistent nasal congestion and other complications affecting patients’ quality of life. Therefore seeking medical attention early on can help alleviate symptoms and prevent further complications.
In conclusion, Ms. Lien’s experience highlights the importance of seeking medical attention promptly when experiencing symptoms related to the nose, sinuses and ears. Prompt intervention can help alleviate symptoms associated with conditions like inferior turbinate hypertrophy while preventing further complications that may affect a patient’s quality of life.
