Do you also often feel like one side of your nose is blocked? Does one side feel tighter than the other when you breathe? Or do you keep your family awake at night due to the sound of snoring? The reason for these things may be simpler than you think. Today we are talking about a condition that many people in our country have, but which is not often discussed, called ' Deviated Septum '.
Simply put, what is a deviated septum?
Imagine that there are two rooms inside your nose. That is, two nostrils. There is a wall separating these two rooms. This wall is made of cartilage and bone. In medicine, we call this wall the nasal septum .
Normally, this wall should be exactly in the middle. Then air can enter both nostrils equally. But in some people, this wall, or septum, is pulled to one side or bent. That is what we call a deviated septum .
Surprisingly, about 80% of the world's population has some form of nasal congestion. But not all of them have difficulty breathing . Only those who experience significant discomfort from this congestion require treatment.
What are the main causes of a runny nose?
There may be two main reasons for this.
- Congenital: Some people may have a slightly protruding nasal septum at birth. This can be caused by pressure from the baby growing in the mother's womb or during childbirth.
- Injuries to the nose: Next are injuries to the nose. This condition can be caused by a fall while playing as a child, an accident while playing sports (for example, in sports like rugby or cricket), a hard blow to the nose during a fight, or a car accident.
Do you also have these symptoms?
The main symptom that many people with a runny nose experience is nasal congestion, especially if it feels like one side is more blocked. Let's take a look at some other common symptoms.
| Symptom | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Nasal congestion | A feeling of stuffiness in one or both nostrils. This stuffiness can be present even when you don't have a cold. |
| Frequent sinus infections | Sinus infections can occur frequently due to nasal congestion, which prevents secretions from draining properly. |
| Snoring and loud breathing in sleep | Because it is difficult to breathe through your nose, you are tempted to breathe through your mouth without realizing it. This is a major cause of snoring. |
| Frequent nosebleeds | Dryness of the inner surface of the nose can cause small blood vessels to burst and bleed. |
| Facial pain and headache | Pressure inside the nose can cause facial pain or headaches. |
| Preferring to sleep on one side | Because it's easier to breathe on the side that isn't blocked, I feel like turning over to sleep on that side. |
Nasal congestion and sleep apnea
This is a very important point. Having a nasal polyp can lead to Sleep Apnea , a condition that causes suffocation during sleep. When nasal breathing is restricted, it directly affects the quality of sleep. One study even found that people with a nasal polyp are 4.5 times more likely to develop Sleep Apnea.
How does a doctor accurately diagnose this condition?
If you have these symptoms, it's best to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT specialist ) . He or she will ask you about your symptoms and examine your nose.
- Examination: The doctor will use a special light and instrument (nasal speculum) to look inside your nostrils. Sometimes, a tube with a small camera (endoscope) inserted into the nose can be used to examine the inside of your nose more clearly.
A little test you can do at home.
This is not a substitute for a medical examination, but it can help you decide whether you need to see a doctor.
1. Close one nostril with your finger.
2. Take a deep breath in through the other nostril. Notice how easy or difficult it is to breathe.
3. Now do the same on the other side.
If it's significantly harder to breathe on one side when doing this, you may have a nasal obstruction.
What are the treatments?
The good news is that there are treatments for this. Treatment options can be divided into two main categories: controlling symptoms with medication and permanently correcting the condition with surgery.
1. Controlling symptoms with medication
These medications will not straighten the nasal bridge. However, they can control the discomfort caused by the bridge, such as nasal congestion and runny nose.
- Decongestants: These come in the form of nasal sprays or tablets. They help reduce swelling inside the nose and make it easier to breathe. However, they should only be used for a short period of time .
- Nasal steroid sprays: These reduce swelling in the nose and improve drainage. These should be used as directed by your doctor .
- Antihistamines: If your nose is blocked due to allergies, these medications can provide relief. However, some types can cause drowsiness.
2. Preparing the bed through surgery
If medication doesn't help and your symptoms are interfering with your daily life, your doctor may recommend surgery. This surgery is usually performed after the nose has stopped growing, around the age of 15 .
- Septoplasty: This is the most common surgery. In this procedure, the surgeon makes a small incision inside the nose, removes excess cartilage or bone from the deviated septum, and straightens the septum. This is a relatively painless procedure that usually takes 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Septorhinoplasty: Sometimes, while reconstructing the bridge of the nose, it may also be necessary to change the external appearance, or shape, of the nose. We colloquially call this a "nose job." When these two surgeries are performed together, we call it Septorhinoplasty.
It's normal to feel a little scared when you think about surgery. But these are very common surgeries now, and they have very successful results. The relief you get in breathing after the surgery is great. Before anything else, talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of the surgery.
Take-Home Message
- A deviated septum is a deviation of the middle wall of the nose (the septum) to one side. This is a very common condition.
- The main symptoms are constant stuffiness on one side, snoring during sleep, frequent sinus infections, and headaches.
- If you have these symptoms, the best thing to do is to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT specialist).
- There are medications available to control symptoms. As a permanent solution, surgery (Septoplasty) can be performed to correct the nasal septum.
- If left untreated, this condition can affect your sleep and quality of life, so it is very important to seek proper medical advice .
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