Everyone suffers a sensation of blocked nose at one time or another, especially during a bad cold. If nasal blockage persists or if it tends to affect one side, then it is important to have it checked out as there are many factors for this, including:

• Allergic rhinitis (hayfever)
• Sinusitis (infection of the air spaces in the nose)
• Nasal polyps
• Benign nasal tumours
• Deviated nasal septum (bone in the middle of the nose which separate both nasal passages)
• Enlarged inferior turbinates (structures in the nose which help warm and humidify airflow)
• Malignant lesions such as sinus and postnasal space cancers

A thorough ear, nose and throat checkup is performed and would include a flexible nasoendoscopy procedure where a soft thin camera is inserted into the nose to examine the back of the nose, throat and voicebox with photos taken. Treatment would be directed according to the cause and may include endoscopic surgery (minimally invasive) and/or medications in the form of tablets or nasal sprays. Radiofrequency ablation of the inferior turbinates (RFIT) is a relatively common minor procedure which safely shrinks down the enlarged inferior turbinates to improve the nasal airway to help the patient breathe better.