The Nose, The Valve, and The Collapse: How Nasal Obstruction Drives Sleep Apnea

Nasal obstruction is one of the most overlooked forces behind sleep apnea. In this episode of Vital Discourse, Dr. Ben Cilento and Dr. Lee Mandel explain how nasal resistance, negative pressure, childhood mouth breathing, turbinates, and the nasal valve all influence airway collapse at night. Listeners learn how to recognize hidden nasal issues, why dry mouth signals nocturnal obstruction, and how procedures like septoplasty, turbinate reduction, valve reconstruction, and laser-based reshaping improve sleep-apnea treatment across CPAP, oral appliances, and Inspire.