Deviated septum – causes, symptoms & therapy

Deviated septum

deviated septum is a common condition where the septum is not in the middle of the nasal cavity. This is arched to the side, reduces the diameter of a nostril and often makes breathing difficult. The curvature can vary in severity.

What is a deviated septum?

A deviated septum is when the thin wall between the right and left nostrils is shifted to one side. In most cases, this is congenital, but it can also result from an injury or an accident. Displacement of the nasal septum can be detected in about 80% of people. This varies in severity and does not always lead to a narrowing of the nasal passage.

Only when the deviated septum is severe can one side of the nose become partially or completely blocked and reduce airflow. Difficulty breathing, swelling of nasal tissues and nosebleeds are possible consequences. Surgical intervention is necessary to correct a strongly arched nasal wall. In the case of a slight curvature, the corresponding symptoms can be treated with medication.

causes

Some people are born with a deviated septum . Others develop a deviated nasal wall after a serious injury or trauma to the nose. In many cases, it arises from a malformation during fetal development and only becomes apparent at birth. It is a small, harmless deformity that is not necessarily pathological and not always recognizable.

A change in the nasal wall can be the result of an injury to the nose during childbirth. Even in childhood or adulthood, minor or major accidents are quite common. Collisions with other people, accidents while playing sports, or stumbling down stairs are common causes of a nose injury. The normal aging process also affects and changes the nasal structures and can aggravate or recreate a small existing nasal septum curvature. Minimal, symptom-free displacements can develop into serious nasal obstructions over time.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of a deviated septum:

Most nasal wall malformations are asymptomatic and do not affect breathing. Most sufferers are unaware of their curvature. Obstruction of one nostril can only occur if the displacement is severe. This blockage makes it difficult to breathe, which is especially noticeable during a cold or an allergy . In these cases, the nasal tissue is even more swollen, further narrowing the nostril.

Some patients complain of loud, wheezing, and labored breathing during sleep . This leads to sleep disturbances and daily fatigue. They tend to sleep on a certain side in order to be able to draw more air through their nose at night. When air is drawn in through only one nostril, the mucous membrane of the nasal wall can become dry and cracked and increase the risk of nosebleeds. Headaches are also often complained about.

When to the doctor?

A deviated septum is not a disease in itself, but it can cause health problems that require a doctor’s visit and can cause severe discomfort.

If the nasal mucosa is permanently inflamed due to poor ventilation and you suffer from constant colds, you should consult a doctor. If left untreated, these symptoms can easily lead to a sinus infection or a sore throat . The nasal septum also requires treatment if it is severely curved, since the auditory tube may not be properly ventilated. A first symptom of this is a feeling of pressure in the ears. This should definitely be clarified by a doctor, as a chronic middle ear infection can be the result.

Other symptoms that indicate a severe curvature of the nasal septum and require a doctor’s visit are breathing problems. These can manifest themselves, among other things, in heavy snoring, insomnia, a reduced sense of smell, headaches and bad breath . If such symptoms occur over a longer period of time or if the quality of life and performance and quality of life are significantly restricted, it makes sense to have the clinical picture clarified by a doctor.

Diagnose

Important in the diagnosis and classification of a deformity of the nasal wall are the symptoms and impairment that it produces. First, the doctor looks at the inside of the nasal wall with the help of a nasal speculum. He looks for damage to the mucous membrane and measures the narrowing of the nostril. On this basis, he can diagnose a deviated septum and classify its severity. If the patient has decided to undergo surgery, an X-ray of the nasal wall is performed.

treatment and therapy

Initial treatment for a deviated nasal wall can be directed according to the symptoms. Expectorant medications reduce the swelling of the nasal mucosa and help keep the airways clear. Caution should be exercised when using nasal sprays . The stimulating effects of these can lead to dependency. A displaced nasal wall and an allergy at the same time impede breathing twice as much.

Antihistamines are helpful in this case because they combat the allergic symptoms such as a runny nose and shortness of breath. Glucocorticoids administered nasally also have an antiallergic and anti-inflammatory effect . They are used regularly and long-term for various rhinitis and free the blocked airways. If drug treatment of the symptoms of a septal deviation is not sufficient, surgical correction of the nasal wall is necessary.

The patient must have completed the growth phase for this. In this procedure, called a septoplasty, the nasal septum is straightened and repositioned in the middle of the nose. The operation usually takes place under general anesthesia and takes less than an hour. A septum resection takes a little longer because large parts of the nasal wall also have to be removed. After the correction of the nasal wall is completed, special tamponades are inserted into the patient’s nostrils. These absorb the slight post-bleeding and have to be removed after a certain time.The degree to which improvement in breathing can be expected after such an operation depends on the severity of the abnormality. This can only be judged when everything has gone down after a few weeks. If the curvature of the nasal septum represents a health impairment, the costs for surgical treatment will be covered by health insurance.

Prevention

A congenital deviation of the nasal wall to the side cannot be prevented. Only these distortions that were triggered by trauma. Wearing helmets while playing different sports could be helpful in preventing nose injury. Seat belts while driving and constant awareness when approaching stairs are also important.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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