Nasal Disease Handbook

The Aging Nose

As your nose ages there are changes both in the structure and in the mucosa. The mucosa is strongly supported by your hormones and these change as you age. The changes are often more dramatic in women than in men, but occur in both sexes. The pregnant female will have incredible, nasal mucosal swelling and this is recognized by congestion and secretion. By the same token, as the nose ages and as these same hormones decrease, the mucosa shrinks and all of a sudden the secretions become thick and difficult to manage. This is usually perceived as a tenacious postnasal drip. People will often snort continuously and may complain of snorting, coughing and even hoarseness. Infection does not play a role in this illness.

For these cases, nasal irrigation is a wonderful cure. Nasal irrigation  can be done once, twice or three times a day. It really does not matter what salt concentration and what temperature are used. Nasal irrigation washes away these thick secretions and since they take 4-6 hours to reaccumulate, the secretions can be repeatedly washed away and the nose converted from a troubled organ to a normal functioning part of your body.

While hormones can be administered to change the secretions, I would not recommend administering hormones for the aging nose. If your doctor prescribes hormonal therapy for other problems such as, osteoporosis or some other medical condition and the nose benefits, you win. However, the repeated irrigations are so simple and so harmless that they are often all that will ever be required.