According to the survey published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in November 2025, 72 percent of adults state that day-long sleepiness affects their daily activities. In the same research, 60 percent of the participants stated that this situation affected their mood, and 42 percent stated that it affected their work efficiency. Ear, nose and throat specialists point out that behind this fatigue may sometimes be nasal congestion that lasts unnoticed throughout the night. Evaluating the issue, Asya ENT Founding Physician, Ear Nose Throat and Head and Neck Surgery Specialist Op. Dr. Fuat Güder said: "Turbinates, which we call nasal concha, are structures that warm and moisten the air in the nose; when they grow, they narrow the airway. A person with a blocked nose breathes through his mouth at night without realizing it; this can lead to dry mouth, snoring and interrupted sleep. In my clinical experience of more than 20 years, the most common situation I encounter is this: The patient stays in bed for eight hours, but wakes up in the morning not rested, and never thinks that this may be related to his nose."
"MORNING FATIGUE MAY BE A HERALD OF NOSE FLUFF ENLARGEMENT"
According to the Global Sleep Survey published by Resmed in March 2026 and conducted with 30 thousand people in 13 countries, 53 percent of the participants can get quality sleep for a maximum of four nights a week. 52 percent of women and 46 percent of men state that they wake up in the morning without feeling rested. Research shows that poor sleep affects not only the individual, but also the bed-sharing partner. 36 percent of those who say their partner disrupts their sleep cite snoring or loud breathing as the reason.
Underlining that snoring should not be taken lightly, Güder says: "Treatment of snoring begins with the correct determination of the cause, because there may be different structural reasons underlying snoring, such as nasal flesh enlargement, nasal bone curvature or adenoids. During my training in the USA, I saw closely how important detailed evaluation of the nose is in a patient who came with sleep complaints. Today, in our clinic, we start the evaluation from the nose and plan the treatment according to the examination findings." Güder also draws attention to nasal spray addiction: "Many people who experience nasal congestion use decongestant sprays for years and after a certain point they become unable to breathe without the spray. However, the spray does not solve the problem, it only postpones it; long-term use can contribute to further growth of nasal congestion. In many patients who use spray constantly, the underlying cause is nasal congestion enlargement and this is a treatable problem."
Stating that the most frequently asked questions from patients are about the duration of the procedure and the recovery process, Güder answers these questions as follows: "'How many minutes does it take for turbinate reduction with radiofrequency?' We hear the question very often. In suitable patients, we perform nasal flesh reduction under local anesthesia in a clinic environment in approximately 15-20 minutes. Another issue that is most curious about is when to return to normal life after the procedure; Our patients can return to their daily lives immediately after the procedure, and only 1-2 hours of numbness remain in the nose area. At Asya ENT, we examine the patient on the same day, determine the cause of nasal congestion and create the treatment plan accordingly."
NOSE HEALTH FEATURES AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF SLEEP HEALTH
In the medical world, sleep problems have long been addressed mainly from a neurological or psychological perspective. In recent years, the role of the upper respiratory tract, especially the nose, in sleep quality has become the focus of more and more research. The relationship between nasal congestion, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea has become one of the common agenda items of ear, nose, throat and sleep medicine specialists. It is known that in some cases, snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, where breathing stops repeatedly during sleep; For this reason, experts recommend that people who snore regularly consult a physician. While there are different options in the field of snoring treatment and sleep apnea treatment, ranging from CPAP devices to surgery, removing nasal congestion is also considered an important part of the process. On the treatment side, minimally invasive methods stand out; Techniques such as radiofrequency aim to shrink the nasal concha and relieve airflow in suitable patients. Increasing upper respiratory tract complaints in autumn and winter months make the effect of nasal congestion on sleep more visible. Experts underline that investigating the actual cause of congestion, rather than seeking temporary relief from nasal spray addiction, may be decisive in terms of sleep quality.
"WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE VISIBLE THE COMPLAINTS THAT PATIENTS HAVE ENDED QUIETLY FOR YEARS"
Operating in Istanbul Ataşehir İçerenköy, Asya ENT provides services in a wide range of areas, from vertigo and balance disorders to nasal congestion, from snoring treatment to sinus, ear, tonsil and adenoid treatments. Clinic, Founding Physician Op. Dr. It works with the same day examination and treatment planning approach under the management of Fuat Güder. Güder explained the approach and future goals of the clinic as follows:
