Our patients with allergic rhinitis often think that nose surgery will not benefit the treatment of their disease. Yes, surgery does not cure allergies, but it does help reduce allergies, although not directly. As we all know, allergy is a disease characterized by the excessive reaction of the tissues in our nose and upper respiratory tract to substances such as dust and pollen in the external environment.
When the allergenic substance reaches the tissue lined with respiratory epithelium, such as the nose, it is severe against itself. A counter response develops. The tissue swells and produces too much secretion, responding more than necessary to remove the substance and disproportionate to the amount of incoming substance. This causes complaints such as nasal congestion, discharge, sneezing, redness around the eyes and watery eyes, which we call "nasal allergy". If the patient also has nasal septum curvature, these complaints are doubled. If it is not treated on time, it causes the epithelium that fills the nose and sinuses to grow excessively, regional blockages, and even the formation of polyp tissues like a bunch of grapes in the nose.
Well, nose surgery is the reason for this. Where is it beneficial?
Surgery does not cure allergies. In patients with mild or severe allergic rhinitis, surgery is required if there is nasal septum curvature and sinusitis. Since the surgery is not aimed at allergies, it provides advanced relief to patients if the nasal airway passage is opened and breathing becomes easier, the sinus holes are widened and their connections with the inside of the nose are increased.
In addition, the nasal concha, which is the surface where allergy is most common, is also affected. If it is made smaller, an even more useful result is obtained. As we asked before, what is the benefit of this for allergies? The answer is actually simple and functional. The surface area exposed to allergen in the epithelium lining the upper respiratory tract, such as inside the nose, has decreased. This physical benefit causes less retention of the allergen and less complaints thanks to a healthy functioning epithelium. Patients use less allergy medication after surgery, and the patients' complaints about the disease decrease to a level where they do not cause much discomfort.
It should also be noted that allergy stops in the upper respiratory tract. If this occurs, no disease occurs in the lungs and lower airways.
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