“Chronic lifelong congestion, worse when talking for a long time?”
I've had mild chronic congestion for most of my life as far as I can remember. It usually manifests as only breathing through one nostril, and over the years I've mostly gotten used to it, except I've recently noticed that when I talk for long periods of time my nose gets stuffier and my voice gets more nasally.
Presumably, the talking vibrates my throat and nasal cavity, loosening excess mucus and leading to this outcome. This typically persists until, of course, I blow my nose, or snort it back up. Blowing my nose doesn't seem to relieve the congestion for any longer than snorting it in, and continuing to talk will bring the congestion back.
I'd like to pursue a possible career path that will necessitate talking a lot, so I'm curious as to what is causing this congestion at the core, and if there's a way to treat it.
I don't have any diagnosed allergies, and the congestion doesn't seem to get worse around specific animals or places, though I have almost always had a cat for most of my life, so I'm not totally closed to the possibility that I have a mild undiagnosed cat allergy.
Presumably, the talking vibrates my throat and nasal cavity, loosening excess mucus and leading to this outcome. This typically persists until, of course, I blow my nose, or snort it back up. Blowing my nose doesn't seem to relieve the congestion for any longer than snorting it in, and continuing to talk will bring the congestion back.
I'd like to pursue a possible career path that will necessitate talking a lot, so I'm curious as to what is causing this congestion at the core, and if there's a way to treat it.
I don't have any diagnosed allergies, and the congestion doesn't seem to get worse around specific animals or places, though I have almost always had a cat for most of my life, so I'm not totally closed to the possibility that I have a mild undiagnosed cat allergy.
Male | 30 years old
Complaint duration: Most of my life
Medications: none
Conditions: none known
4 Answers
The best way to investigate this problem is have an ENT examine the internal anatomy of your nose. I doubt the physical act of talking is having anything to do with your congestion. What does impact the anatomy of the nose is blood pressure and humidity. inside the nose are turbinates, which will fluctuate in size and volume based on the body's position, blood pressure and humidity in the air you are breathing. These can change the nasal airflow significantly. Use a nasal steroid spray daily for at least 4 weeks before you go to see an ENT to examine the anatomy of your nasal passages.
Nasal congestion can be a physiologic, allergic, particulate irritant, chemical irritant, hypersensitive, anatomic, and neoplastic. Suggest seeing an ENT for opinion and treatment options.
Your symptoms are likely related to an anatomical issue with the nose. The cycle you describe of one nostril opening and the other closing is part of the natural swelling cycle of the turbinates. However, if your turbinates are too big for your nose, it can cause obstruction. An exam by an ENT with a nasal scope can give you a better idea of possible nasal abnormalities contributing. Other factors could be nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum, or nasal valve collapse.
Since your symptoms are long-standing I would suggest seeing an allergist who can perform appropriate testing to see if allergies may be contributing to the congestion. Depending on the results the next step may be seeing an ENT to evaluate both the sinuses and the vocal cords.
