Why Is My Nose Always Stuffy? Medical Mystery Case | Houston ENT Explains

All right y'all, it is medical mystery time. Can you figure out what's causing these patient symptoms, uh, before I reveal the big diagnosis? Alright, so we have a 42-year-old, um, male patient who comes in with chronic nasal congestion that never fully goes away even when they're not sick. They are a constant mouth breather, constantly feel like their nose is blocked on both sides.

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They mention a decrease sense of smell and taste and frequent pressure behind their cheeks and their eyes. They've tried allergy medications, decongested sprays, antibiotics, and nothing seems to last. On exam. The inside of the nose looks pale and swollen, and when I look with a scope, I see some soft grape like tissue, filling those nasal passages.

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You can see the picture right here. So what do you think is causing this? Comment or guess below before I reel the answer. That's right. The answer is nasal polyps. Nasal polyps are benign, gross. They form from chronic inflammation of the sinuses and nasal lining, and they can block the air flow, reducing smell and make sinus infections more likely because snot can't drain out and air can't get in.

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They're commonly associated with allergies, asthma, chronic sinus disease, and for some cases, they're sensitive to aspirin. Many patients don't realize they have them until those symptoms become very severe and the most severe symptoms that they can actually push against the eyes and even it up into the brain.

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So if you have persistent congestion, loss of smell or facial pressure, it may be more than just allergies. Follow from more of these medical mysteries. I'm Dr. Herman for in Houston, Texas at SCENT Houston.