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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Odor released when exhaling--How do I get rid of it?
Answered by
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Odor released when exhaling--How do I get rid of it?
by showtime, Dec 10, 2003 12:00AM
With these nose problems, when you exhale through the nose do you release the odor? Other people around me complain about an odor that a doctor claims is released from my nose. Could this be a symptom of a post nasal drip problem? Not sure if this is relevant at all, but its usualy worse when my stomach is empty. Its very hard going to class everyday knowing many students are disgusted by the odor. Thanks
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Dec 15, 2003 12:00AM
, Dec 15, 2003 12:00AM
This could be a symptom of postnasal drip. It could also be a symptom of sinusitis.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities. Inflammation of the sinuses could be due to an allergy, an infection, or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke. Symptoms can include a headache or pressure in the area of the sinuses, a stuffy nose, achy teeth, an odor coming from your nose, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, laryngitis, constant low fever, and thick, yellow to green nasal drainage. A CT scan of the sinuses is the best way to identify sinusitis.
This inflammation can block sinus drainage and cause increased mucus production. The mucus can drain from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat causing a constant or intermittent postnasal drip and odor coming from your nose. This can fester sinusitis.
There could be several reasons for postnasal drip. One reason is an allergy. A second reason is a non-allergic, non-infectious inflammation in the sinuses that can linger after a cold. A third reason is chronic sinusitis. Postnasal drip can cause breathing difficulty as a result of irritation of the throat and lungs. You may experience the postnasal drip as a feeling of mucus at the back of your throat. The mucus may "sit" there, especially when it is thick, and cause an odor to come from your nose. It may not move with coughing or snorting.
As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily. This will thin the mucus so that it moves more easily. An antihistamine can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant like SudafedŽ (pseudoephedrine) can thin the postnasal drip and relieve your blocked sinuses by decreasing the swelling so they drain easier. Check with your doctor to see if either of these would help you.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from your nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and help your sinuses to drain better so there is less odor coming from your nose. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
If there is still an odor coming from your nose, your doctor may recommend a prescription nasal steroid spray. This can decrease mucus production by decreasing the inflammation in the nose and sinuses. This generally provides a more lasting decrease in sinus pressure, improves sinus drainage, prevents the postnasal drip, and the odor coming from your nose. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may take several weeks of routine use to become effective.
You will need to see your doctor to learn why an odor is coming from your nose and what treatment would be best for you. Please read our Sinusitis MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/sinus.html for further information. An ENT would be the type of specialist to identify if blocked sinuses are causing the odor to come from your nose and the best treatment.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities. Inflammation of the sinuses could be due to an allergy, an infection, or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke. Symptoms can include a headache or pressure in the area of the sinuses, a stuffy nose, achy teeth, an odor coming from your nose, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, laryngitis, constant low fever, and thick, yellow to green nasal drainage. A CT scan of the sinuses is the best way to identify sinusitis.
This inflammation can block sinus drainage and cause increased mucus production. The mucus can drain from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat causing a constant or intermittent postnasal drip and odor coming from your nose. This can fester sinusitis.
There could be several reasons for postnasal drip. One reason is an allergy. A second reason is a non-allergic, non-infectious inflammation in the sinuses that can linger after a cold. A third reason is chronic sinusitis. Postnasal drip can cause breathing difficulty as a result of irritation of the throat and lungs. You may experience the postnasal drip as a feeling of mucus at the back of your throat. The mucus may "sit" there, especially when it is thick, and cause an odor to come from your nose. It may not move with coughing or snorting.
As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily. This will thin the mucus so that it moves more easily. An antihistamine can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant like SudafedŽ (pseudoephedrine) can thin the postnasal drip and relieve your blocked sinuses by decreasing the swelling so they drain easier. Check with your doctor to see if either of these would help you.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from your nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and help your sinuses to drain better so there is less odor coming from your nose. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
If there is still an odor coming from your nose, your doctor may recommend a prescription nasal steroid spray. This can decrease mucus production by decreasing the inflammation in the nose and sinuses. This generally provides a more lasting decrease in sinus pressure, improves sinus drainage, prevents the postnasal drip, and the odor coming from your nose. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may take several weeks of routine use to become effective.
You will need to see your doctor to learn why an odor is coming from your nose and what treatment would be best for you. Please read our Sinusitis MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/sinus.html for further information. An ENT would be the type of specialist to identify if blocked sinuses are causing the odor to come from your nose and the best treatment.
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Andy, RRT,CPFT
Good luck with your root canal....AcK!
-Andy, RRT,CPFT
From your comments, I suspect that I am probably suffering the same problem as you. I am quite certain that there is a bad odor released from my nose by looking at the reaction of people around me. It's really hell going through everyday life with this problem.
I too have the same symptom that you mentioned, which is the smell is especially strong on an empty stomach.
Would you like to keep in contact with me so that we can update each other on the progress of our problem and hopefully find solutions?
Please email me at danny_needs_help***@**** if you are willing to respond.
Cheers
From your comments, I suspect that I am probably suffering the same problem as you. I am quite certain that there is a bad odor released from my nose by looking at the reaction of people around me. It's really hell going through everyday life with this problem.
I too have the same symptom that you mentioned, which is the smell is especially strong on an empty stomach.
Would you like to keep in contact with me so that we can update each other on the progress of our problem and hopefully find solutions?
Please email me at danny_needs_help***@**** if you are willing to respond.
Cheers