Nasal Valve Collapse

What is the nasal valve?

The nasal valves are located in the mid to lower part of the nose. This is the narrowest part of the airway passage leading from the nose to the throat, where air then enters the lungs. The nasal passage is narrowed for a good reason. It provides resistance which allows you to control your airflow as well as providing the sensation of breathing in and out (there is a satisfying feeling when you are able breathe in deeply through your nose, and you can feel the air flowing in). Also, if you’ve ever been in extremely cold weather, you would have been aware of how important it was to have your breath warmed and humidified. Breathing freezing and extremely dry air into your lungs from your open mouth is not fun. So a narrow passage into your lungs turns out to be very important.

What is nasal valve collapse?

Sometimes the nasal passage does its work of limiting airflow too well. The consequence is a limitation to breathing through the nose, which can have negative consequences depending on the severity of the condition.

Nasal valve collapse is the term that refers to a further narrowing of the nasal valve from where it should be. This creates increased resistance when breathing, and causes a variety of problems such as the feeling of a stuffy nose all the time, breathing from your mouth, snoring, and not getting a good night of sleep because of this. Some patients simply describe the condition as nasal collapse, and may notice one or both nostrils collapsing inward while breathing in.

Common causes of impaired nasal breathing

The structures of the nasal valve are created mostly from cartilage, a thin sheaf of muscle and skin. This delicate structure is susceptible to failure from several potential causes. Sometimes there is a combination of causes involved to create the condition.

Surgery or an injury to the nose can both cause damage and swelling to the nasal valve, and scar tissue formed can weaken the structure. A deviated septum caused by trauma (injury) to the nose can often lead to NVC.

Another known cause is nasal valve collapse from drugs that are inhaled through the nose, such as cocaine, when used over an extended time. Drug use can damage and weaken the delicate nasal cartilage and tissues, leading to collapse.

The nasal valve can be damaged by using drugs that are inhaled through the nose, like cocaine, over an extended time.

Nasal valve collapse can occur in people due to inherited anatomical characteristics or other congenital conditions. Someone may have been born with a nose that projects too far or nostrils that are too narrow.

Aging is also a factor in the condition because the aging process can naturally weaken the structures of the nasal valve.

Test yourself!

There is a simple way you can test yourself to see if you have any degree of nasal valve collapse. It’s called the Cottle test and to perform this test, first breathe in and out somewhat deeply (but not too forced) through your nose. Then, hold the skin of your face on each side of your nose and then pull the skin outwards to each side. Breathe in again through your nose as you did before. If you can breathe more easily, then you have a degree of nasal valve collapse restricting your breathing. Many people report, “one of my nostrils collapses when I breathe in,” which is a common sign of valve weakness. For some the amount may be inconsequential but others may find the amount significant. For some the amount may be inconsequential but others may find the amount significant.

Treatment for Nasal Valve Collapse

Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the condition.

1. No Management – If you have a pinched nose or other nose shape causing a small degree of nasal valve collapse but these aren’t bothering you and your breathing is acceptable for you, then you don’t have to do anything. You can always decide to take action later, there won’t be additional damage to your nose by waiting.
2. Environmental Precautions – Allergies that cause nasal congestion can make the nasal valve collapse go from a subtle problem to a significant one. So keeping your environment free from allergens is a good strategy. This may require housecleaning often to remove dust and pollen, and an air purifier can be helpful as well.
3. Nasal Valve Dilator – This treatment is simple and effective, involving an adhesive backed firm strip which, when attached to the outer structure of the nose, manually widens the nasal valve. The commonly known name brand are call “Breathe Right” strips. These are usually worn at night, they are not an appealing look, so the treatment doesn’t really help with the waking hours.
4. Medication – Nasal steroid and decongestant sprays work by shrinking the nasal mucosa, opening the nasal valves enough to improve breathing. The disadvantage is that it’s not a good idea to use these kinds of drugs for an extended period of time.
5. Nasal Valve Surgery – Although opting for surgery is a big decision, there are several advantages over patient implemented treatments. After surgery, increased ability to breathe through the nose is not limited to night-time, or the time that a drug is active in your system. Your breathing will be improved all day, every day. For some, the home remedies simply don’t do enough to improve their breathing, so surgery remains the only alternative for significant improvement.

Make an appointment for an evaluation

If you feel you have a problem with nasal valve collapse or nasal collapse, please make an appointment with Dr. Shvidler for an evaluation. He will discuss your diagnosis with you, as well as treatments which might work best for you. Soon you will begin your journey towards restoring your breathing back to normal.