If you’re constantly congested, relying on nasal sprays, or breathing through your mouth at night, allergies may not be the only culprit—your turbinates might be enlarged. At Nevada Sinus Relief, Dr. Ashley Sikand, a board-certified otolaryngologist and fellowship-trained sinus specialist, helps patients in Las Vegas identify the connection between chronic allergies and turbinate hypertrophy—and how to treat both for long-term relief.
What Are Turbinates and Why Do They Swell?
Turbinates are small, curved structures in the nasal passages that help warm, humidify, and filter the air you breathe. They are lined with mucosa that can become inflamed in response to allergens or irritants.
In people with allergic rhinitis, long-term exposure to allergens like pollen, pet dander, or dust mites causes the turbinate tissue to swell repeatedly. Over time, this can lead to turbinate hypertrophy, a condition in which the turbinates remain enlarged and block airflow even when allergies are managed.
Symptoms of Enlarged Turbinates
Turbinate hypertrophy may cause symptoms that mimic or overlap with allergies, such as:
- Persistent nasal congestion
- Difficulty breathing through the nose
- Postnasal drip
- Mouth breathing during sleep
- Reduced sense of smell
Because the symptoms often persist even when allergy medications are used, many patients don’t realize that structural changes (not just inflammation) are affecting their breathing.
Treating the Root Cause: Allergies and Anatomy
At Nevada Sinus Relief, Dr. Sikand begins with a detailed evaluation using nasal endoscopy and RadSite-accredited in-office CT imaging to assess both the nasal passages and sinus structures. This allows him to distinguish between temporary swelling from active allergies and permanent turbinate enlargement.
If allergy management alone isn’t enough, turbinate reduction may be recommended. This minimally invasive in-office procedure shrinks the size of the turbinates while preserving their natural function. By treating both the allergic inflammation and the structural enlargement, patients often experience dramatic improvements in breathing.
Schedule a Consultation
Dr. Sikand brings decades of experience and advanced training from Stanford and Zurich to each evaluation. He is nationally recognized for his work in less invasive sinus care and currently serves as assistant professor at both Touro University and the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Las Vegas.
If allergy symptoms and nasal congestion are limiting your breathing, contact (702) 805-1550 to schedule a consultation and explore whether turbinate reduction is the right next step.