Empty Nose Syndrome - Main Symptoms

Main Symptoms

The two main physical symptoms are:

1. Chronic nasal dryness Often leads to chronic mucosal inflammation and pain. Chronic inflammation can cause areas of the mucosa to atrophy and this is why some studies refer to this condition as "secondary atrophic rhinitis". At least one large study concluded that it can take 7.1 years, on average, for symptoms of atrophic rhinitis to appear and urges the examining physician to look for early signs and to try to counter them with self administered daily nasal irrigations and moisturization by the patient.
2. Paradoxical obstruction - a constant troubling feeling of suffocation generated by poor airflow feedback from the nasal mucosa, either because of atrophy of the trigeminal nerve endings that are supposed to generate this sensation, their lack of responsiveness because of the mucosa becoming too dry or going through metaplasia, or simply because of the loss of normal nasal aerodynamics following the turbinectomy. Without good and constant airflow sensation of the air flowing through the nose, the nervous feedback to the central nervous system is that of suffocation.

Other predominant symptoms are lack of a good night's sleep and chronic fatigue. The chronic nature of the physical symptoms has a significant impact on the patient's quality of life and sense of well-being, causing difficulty concentrating, pre-occupation with symptoms, anxiety, and clinical depression. Also, development of asthma and chronic bronchitis is not uncommon, as the nose is the guardian of the lungs.