Nasal obstruction and sleep-disordered breathing

Nasal obstruction can be an undiagnosed contributor to sleep-disordered breathing in certain patients. The nasal valve is composed of many individual parts that may contribute to nasal obstruction. Three different theories have been postulated to link nasal obstruction and sleep-disordered breathing, which include increased airway resistance, unstable oral breathing, and impaired nasal reflexes. The improvement or elimination of these disorders may be medical or surgical and may facilitate the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing.