can issues with the nose like sinus t... - Asthma Community ...

Asthma Community Forum

21,697 members24,472 posts

can issues with the nose like sinus trouble effect asthma

ash160808 profile image
21 Replies

as the title says can things with the nose like sinus trouble effect your asthma? i have had a stuffy tender nose for months now and the doctor has given me a nasal spray to try and help and he also said about a salt saline solution to flush out my nose aswell

Anyone had anything like this

Written by
ash160808 profile image
ash160808
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
21 Replies
elanaoali profile image
elanaoali

I do both nasal spray and salt douch for my post nasal drip (not for my asthma). Did your doctor say what is causing your stuffy nose? Mine is allergy to house dust mite poo. Usually most acute in the autumn/winter months.

Hi!! Yes, I do! I suffer from really bad hay fever, and was diagnosed with asthma last summer! Day to day, my asthma is very well controlled with Clenil Modulite at the moment, but the minute I get a stuffy nose, either allergy or virus related, my asthma flares! The nurse believes that I have allergy related asthma, that also flares from post nasal drip too! (I have never had a chest infection, any cold virus stays firmly in my sinuses, which is why she thinks it’s post nasal drip related, either from the rubbish draining from my nose down or from the fact that pnd makes me cough anyway that it then flares from that!) I take Avamys spray, although it’s debatable how much it actually works! (Probably one of those things you don’t realise helps until it is taken away though lol!) I also suffer from Eustachian tube dysfunction in my one ear too as a result of rubbish sinuses! I use the sinus rinse as well as the steroid spray when I get bad too, I do find it helps temporarily, as well as lots of steaming! In the past I used to use vicks and/or olbas oil at night which was amazing for helping me to sleep and keep my sinuses open at night... however my asthma hates anything like that so I can’t be near anything like that now!

lakelover profile image
lakelover in reply to

Avamys didn't help my post nasal drip, but Nasonex did!

in reply to lakelover

Thank you!! I think I may need to change........ but I do find the Avamys brilliant for sinus pain, and I do notice when I’m due more when my post nasal drip is bad, so I think it must be helping in someways... but not in others, I’ve really suffered with my ears so thinking of trying alternatives this hay fever season...... I’ve also had Dymista suggested to me too so I’m going to take those suggestions and speak to my gp about it in case something else might help more! X

Kamran42 profile image
Kamran42 in reply to

Hi, you said you had a problem with your eustachian tube in one ear. I was wandering what symptoms you've experienced due to this issue.

in reply to Kamran42

Hi! Oh yes! I had a perforated ear drum as a baby, had a skin graft put in to repair it 14 years ago, had tube problems ever since but had settled until last years horrendous hay fever, I’ve had a lot of pain, a lot of pressure/fullness, and I’ve had 6/7 infections this last year alone! When it’s been checked by docs they always have said how sucked in my drum looks, and they can see fluid behind my ear, I’ve also had tinnitus and loss of hearing due to this, and occasional dizziness/feeling not quite steady but that tends to be eased by antihistamines (pharmacist suggestion, I have no idea how/why it works but it seems to with me anyway!) x

Kamran42 profile image
Kamran42 in reply to

Awwh, I'm sorry your going through so much. I only asked because I have ringing in my ear plus I'm off balance a lot of the time, also I had a ct scan nothing was revealed, whenever I say to my doc my left ear feels a little blocked they can never see anything. Thanks for your reply, i sincerely hope you feel better. All the best.

in reply to Kamran42

Thank you! Ah no that sounds horrid, they said that to me when I first had problems with the tube that they couldn’t see anything, it’s only been this last year when it’s been sucked in and nothing is really helping that they’ve actually listened to me and agreed I was right all along! All I can suggest is to just keep on going back and telling them, maybe seeing a different doctor may help sometimes... have you had a hearing test? It might be worth asking for one if you haven’t already had one! Also have you tried things like decongestants for a few days, and getting a sinus rinse? Also might be worth trying a hay fever/allergy nasal spray to try to help unblock your ear, if you haven’t already? Hope things improve for you soon! X

Kamran42 profile image
Kamran42 in reply to

Hi, yes I've been using a nasal decongestant continuously for many years. It's the only thing that's keeping my nose unlocked. As you said, I might have to change my doctor, few years back I had a ct of my ear, hearing test and all sorts done, they found no issues. I've been living with this issue for most my life and mostly am able to cope with it, trying not to let it rule my life. But some times it gets really bad and I'm at the a&e, which they never find anything wrong. Thanks for the reply.

in reply to Kamran42

I can totally sympathise! It’s a horrid thing to have to live with, especially when you’ve tried everything you can and nothing really helps xx

Kamran42 profile image
Kamran42 in reply to

Thanks, I know it's horrible and can be debilitating. It comes to a point where you cant remember what normal feels like its weird.

in reply to Kamran42

Oh yes! Being diagnosed with asthma in the summer after the most horrendous hay fever season, and spending the last 12 months with my ear either being blocked, infected or both! Normal seems like a lifetime away! X

Lysistrata profile image
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador

Hi, I am an asthma freak because I have non-allergic asthma but also hayfever (apparently possible, but unusual). A previous consultant told me that even if allergies weren't directly setting my asthma off, I should keep on top of the hayfever because post-nasal drip can go into your lungs and set asthma off just from the 'mechanics' of having fluid dripping in there (lovely...). I now seem to get rhinitis all year round and found that rinsing out with saline before my Avamys, as advised by the AUK nurse, and an increased dose of spray does help with the stuffiness.

Kamran42 profile image
Kamran42 in reply to Lysistrata

Hi I also suffer with hayfever and allergies. Ever since I was little I've had nasal issues with frequent blocked nose. I've been using a nasal spray for over 15 years I cannot stop using it, I'm addicted to it. If stop i get chronic nose blockage makes me feel suffocated. Did you have similar experience.

Lysistrata profile image
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador in reply to Kamran42

I haven't been using it nearly that long and it was seasonal initially - I didn't need it in the winter. This year I kept trying to come off it and getting a blocked/runny nose when I did, then even on the Avamys I still got it! Asthma UK advised the saline rinse and to ask GP for increased dose. I'm now managing to taper it down a bit - still more than I was on but not quite as much. I'm still using the saline though as that does help.

Catheec profile image
Catheec

Agree with everyone here who has posted get your nose/sinuses under control it really helps. I started this last October after a bad flare up of asthma had to have pred etc. Spoke to my GP who recccomended nasal washing which I do every morning & I use a standard nasal spray afterwards an over the counter one and I take an anti histamine too. Just had a cold & although I used my inhaler more to help my asthma it did not get so bad I needed pred again definitely worth a try.

Kevinking profile image
Kevinking

Yes yes yes. Pnd does trigger asthma symptoms. For a week and a half I couldn't breathe in when trying to sleep at night. Doctors finally figured out my asthma wasn't being controlled very well ( I never took my preventer, just my reliever .... stupid I know ) , the excess phlegm that my lungs was producing along with pND was making it hard for me to breathe in. I'm now on Avamys nose spray ( as recommended by Asthma uk). which is working great ( give it time to work) . May I recommend breathe easy nose strips too, especially at night. Really open up the nasal air ways . Pnd has a lot to answer for.

Kamran42 profile image
Kamran42 in reply to Kevinking

Hi, how long would you say you have to use avamys spray before any noticeable improvement, because I also suffer with pnd it's sometimes thick and sometimes light and goes down my throat, is this your experience aswell.

Kevinking profile image
Kevinking

Absolutely does affect me the same way. My asthma was poorly managed which I feel triggered the pnd, body went into super defense mode, sinus and lungs started over producing that same thick phlegm. Avamys works in about a week or so. The doctor told me, first week two sprays in each nostril, then after first week , one spray in each nostril. Seems alot better than before, still not an overnight fix, as with all asthma / phlegm related issues it takes time . Get some avamys asap . Take care and God Bless you always

Kamran42 profile image
Kamran42 in reply to Kevinking

Is pnd associated with asthma, because the gunk drips down into the lungs. Is that the case? And would you say controlling this issue would help with the breathing problem in the long term.

Kevinking profile image
Kevinking in reply to Kamran42

Absolutely related. Control the drip , control the asthma. An asthma nurse said to me today that the lungs and nose are all the same air ways . Both are open to inflammation. Check asthma.uk website on how to take the prescribed nasal spray, as I've been taking mine incorrectly. Hope this helps . God Bless you always

You may also like...

Sinus issues and asthma

virus that I've had seems to have now moved from my lungs into my sinuses - I've had many issues...

Blocked nose and now toothache from Sinus infection

steroid injection because I had a breathing problem in the 90's and had one and the problem went...

Is there a firm way to distinguish sinus issues from asthma symptoms

mine (he doesn’t rely on a steroid nasal spray)and he developed asthma at my age. So every bit of...

Does asthma severity tend to reflect that of sinuses?

insight if I do develop asthma will it likely be severe given the extent of my sinus inflammation?...

How long can a asthma episode last?

My daughter has had asthma symptoms for 14 days. Needing inhaler every 4 hours. She had 10 days of...