A deviated septum is a medical condition that affects the nasal septum (the nasal septum is the wall or cartilage that separates your nostrils or nasal passages into halves). A deviated septum occurs when the nasal septum is deviated or away from the centre making one part of the nose smaller than the other. This condition can however become more critical to the point of a total blockage of one side of the nose, leading to reduced airflow and breathing problems.
Causes
Symptoms
A lot of times, people whose septum is deviated do not notice it, as it might be very unobvious. However, in some people, the deformity or deviated of the nasal septum will be obvious and discovered with symptoms like:
Other causes can include the preference to assume a particular sleeping position or posture, nasal congestion, sinus infections, nasal swelling etc. When you discover or notice any of this symptoms of a deviated nasal septum, there are treatment that you can employ to combat it ranging from decongestants to as much as surgery.
Treatments
Decongestants
Usually absorbed or taken thought the nostrils with the aid of an inhaler, decongestants are used for the treatment of nasal congestion which is one of the symptoms associated with a deviated nasal septum.
Antihistamine
You can also use antihistamines to combat symptoms of deviated septum like incessant or repeating sinus infections, nasal congestions others. Antihistamines are usually recommended as treatments for allergies and can be used to relieve or combat the symptoms of deviated nasal septum.
Corticosteroid
Or nasal steroid spray is used to treat a variety of different medical conditions including those conditions that affect the nostrils such as the register nasal septum and it's symptoms.
Nasal strip
An adhesive bandage that can be used as a corrective treatment for deviated nasal septum. The strip usually consists of plastic ribs or splints and it is applied on the nose covering the bridge of the nose and sides of the nostrils.
It helps to open up the nasal airways, ease breathing, reduce congestions in the nose, reduce or prevent snoring and loud breathing during sleep etc.
It is an highly effective treatment for deviated septum.
All these treatments can be personally administered if you feel any of the symptoms of a deviated nasal septum. It is however advisable that you visit a medical practitioner of the symptoms do not recede within a short period of time to avoid complications that might arise due to late treatment.
The doctor will then examine your nose with medical instruments like the nasal speculum and professional questions about your sleeping, snoring, breathing and also sinus problem to determine what treatment would be best for you. If the Doctor feels or discovers your nasal septum is critically deviated from it's place, he might recommend surgery as treatment for you.
This surgery is called septoplasty and is used for the treatment of the ear, the nose, and the throat. Septoplasty treatment on the deviated septum is however not devoid of risks and you can always ask your doctor about the risks to allow you decide if you'll go on with the surgery or stick with your treatment outside of surgery.
Some of the risks that are associated with the septoplasty treatment or surgery include:
- Alteration of the shape of the nose which can alter your facial look.
- Decreased or total loss of your sense of smell.
- Temporary feeling of numbness in your upper gums and your teeth
- Bleeding that might be excessive and uncontrollable
- Persistence of symptoms even after surgery and so on
The process of the surgery or septoplasty is usually about 90 minutes long and you will be placed under the use of anaesthesia, be it local or general anaesthesia as the doctor or surgeon decides. During the operation, the surgeon will cut the septum to remove excess cartilage or bone to straighten the septum and open up your nostrils or nasal passages.
The surgeon can also decide to fit silicone sprints in each nostrils to serve as support for the septum before closing the incision. You will often be advised against certain medications some days before the surgery to avoid complications as much as possible, but the medical practitioner will take necessary measures in any case of complication that might arise.
So, if you have any of the nasal symptoms and the treatments you've tried have not worked for you or you're unsatisfied with the results, then the time might be right for you to get a septoplastic surgery to correct that deviation of your nasal septum.
References:
Deviated Septum: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
Deviated Septum - Symtoms and Causes - Mayo Clinic
Septoplasty: What to expect, risks, and reasons for surgery
Deviated Septum: When Does it Require Surgery and What Is that Like?
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