In order to keep roads in working condition, construction is needed. But things are also delayed by construction. We’ve all been locked in a construction-caused traffic jam. Even a small lane change can cause hundreds of thousands of cars on a highway to step on their breaks, and the whole system crawls to a slow.
So, just for a minute, stay with this one… a highway and your nostrils are comparable in a certain way. Air moves in and out, mucus goes in and out, and both of these functions are important to keep you healthy. The left nostril (or lane, if you will) and right are divided by a piece of tissue known as a septum.
But backups in your nose occur when that septum isn’t straight because it’s deviated. This can lead to, uh, traffic backups of mucus. The point is that when things drag, issues start to occur, and your nose won’t function as it’s supposed to.
A deviated septum, what is it?
The septum is a little strip of tissue that separates your left and right nasal passages. Usually, this is a straight piece of tissue. But this tissue can sometimes get pushed off to one side. Hence the term, “deviated septum”. So, you’re thinking: How do I get a deviated septum? Some people are born with a deviated septum and others have a traumatic event that causes it.
Problems, from trouble breathing, sleeping, or prolonged sinus infections can be caused by a deviated septum. So you should contact us or your provider about your options if you think you might be dealing with a deviated septum.
How can I tell if I have a deviated septum?
A deviated septum can, in some situations, be fairly clear of symptoms. But that’s not the case for everyone. In many cases, in fact, a deviated septum will show up with definite symptoms. Some of the most common signs of a deviated septum include the following:
- Noisy breathing: While you’re asleep or during hard activity, your breathing can be noisy.
- Reduced sense of smell: Like all organs, the instrument of your nose is fragile. When airflow is reduced due to injury or disturbance of your sense of smell can be jeopardized.
- Excess Snoring: Your sleep cycle can be negatively affected by a deviated septum. For some, this means louder snoring. For others, it may end up contributing to sleep apnea or other sleep disturbances.
- Headaches: The normal drainage and flow of air can be disrupted by a deviated septum. This can result in headaches (particularly headaches situated in the front of your head).
- Facial Pain: Similarly, your deviated septum can trigger pain in your face. This is because your nasal cavities and sinuses are experiencing a higher than average level of pressure.
- Frequent nosebleeds: When you have a deviated septum, moisture can’t always get everywhere it needs to be (it’s that traffic jam causing problems). Your nasal cavities might, as a result, dry out. This can lead to regular nosebleeds.
- Postnasal Drip: There’s an internal interconnection between your ear, nose, and throat. So mucus will drip back down into your throat when your nose is blocked. This is called postnasal drip. If you experience this sensation frequently, it might be because of a deviated septum.
- Sinus infections: Just because you’ve had a sinus infection doesn’t indicate that you have a deviated septum. But your nasal passages won’t always drain fully with a deviated septum. Over time, this can bring about chronic or repeated sinus infections. So, if every time you get a cold, it develops into a sinus infection, a deviated septum could be behind your issue.
- Nasal congestion: Blockage of one or both sides of your nostrils might make it difficult for you to smell or breathe. Usually, this congestion will be worse on one side than on the other, but it does depend on the nature of your deviated septum. If you find your nostrils are blocked up frequently, it could be an indication of a deviated septum.
So… what issues will a deviated septum bring about in you personally? It depends, you might experience all of these issues. Or, possibly only a few will appear. A correct diagnosis can only be given by your provider.
How is a deviated septum diagnosed?
Once you begin noticing the symptoms, it’s logical that you’d want to get that checked out! So what should you anticipate when you come in to see us? A discussion about your medical history is the general starting place. We will chat with you about things like whether you’ve been having chronic sinus infections, when your symptoms started, and if you’ve been snoring. We’ll also probably want to talk about past nasal traumas or surgeries because each of those can raise the chances that you’re dealing with a deviated septum.
We will also do a physical exam. Usually, we will use special equipment to look into your nose. We may carefully spread your nostrils to have a better look and see if we can determine the condition of your septum. We will be able to see if anything is shaped unusually or if there is an obstruction.
We might also employ several diagnostics, such as the following:
- Nasal endoscopy: So we can take a better look inside your nose, we will insert this thin, flexible tube with a little camera on the end.
- Allergy testing: Since allergies can contribute to nasal inflammation, allergy tests are frequently performed to rule out that possibility.
- Imaging studies: This may include an MRI or a CT scan.
Once we have completed all these tests, we’re usually able to diagnose you with a deviated septum (or rule one out if your septum is straight).
Fixing a deviated septum
Naturally, once you discover you have a deviated septum, the next move is treatment. Here are a few strategies we may take to deal with your deviated septum:
Approaches that don’t require surgery
- Medication: This may include over-the-counter nasal decongestants or nasal steroid sprays. However, these generally address only surface level symptoms and not the underlying cause.
- Allergy management: If your allergies are contributing to your clogged up nose, it makes sense to manage them as much as you can.
- Nasal strips: These can help while sleeping or some physical activities. They might be good for borderline cases.
Surgical approaches
- Rhinoplasty: This is also a surgical procedure, except this one is designed to change the shape of the nose more generally. When used to manage a deviated septum, rhinoplasty is often combined with septoplasty.
- Septoplasty: Sometimes called “deviated septum surgery,” septoplasty is a surgical technique designed to straighten a deviated septum. Your septum can be effectively repositioned when this surgery is done by an ENT. A deviated septum is commonly and effectively treated by this surgery.
- Turbinate reduction: Turbinates are little structures inside of the nose. Any nasal congestion that you’re feeling can be exacerbated if the turbinates become enlarged. Sometimes, in order to improve air and mucus flow, septoplasty is coupled with turbinate reduction surgery.
Don’t wait to get help
If construction is causing a roadblock, traffic will free up when the construction is finished. But that isn’t the situation with a deviated septum. Unless you take the correct measures, those traffic jams will keep taking place.
So, think you might have a deviated septum? Give us a call for an evaluation.