An Overview of Deviated Nasal Septum!

A quite common condition that may or may not cause a difficulty is the Deviated Nasal Septum. While most do not show any symptoms, some may experience noisy breathing, nasal congestion, or nose bleeding.
Nasal septum deviation is a physical disorder of the nose. It is a condition when the thin wall which is referred to as nasal septum located between the nasal passages is deviated or displaced to any one of the sides which makes one of the nasal passage reduce in size obstructing the air flow and causing trouble with breathing.

Causes of Deviated Nasal Septum
In cases of slight deviation of the nasal septum, it generally goes unnoticed since it does not result in any significant difficulties. In some cases, even if there is a slight difficulty in breathing, the individuals think that it might be due to a cough and cold which blocks the nose.

1. One of the leading causes of deviated nasal septum might be due to the condition that was present at the time of the birth of the individual. A deviated nasal septum might occur during the fetal development which is apparent at the time of birth.
2. The second cause of this condition might be as a result of an injury to the nose which causes the nasal septum to move out of its normal position. The injury might be caused by any accident, contact sports, active play, etc.

Symptoms of Deviated Nasal Septum
In most of the cases of the septal deformities, there are no visible symptoms, but in some cases, there arise some symptoms from which a deviated nasal septum can be confirmed. First and foremost, there is an obstruction in any one or both of the nostrils which make it very difficult to breathe. This might be more noticeable when the individual catches a cold or any allergies that cause the nasal passages to swell. Another prominent symptom is the bleeding of nausea which is caused when the surface of the septum becomes dry. In some cases, facial pain is experienced particularly in the area near the nose or inside the nose. A noisy breathing during the sleep can be another symptom of the deviated nasal septum.

Treatment of Deviated Nasal Septum
The treatment is usually carried out by Ear - Nose - Throat specialist (ENT). The first procedure for treatment is the decongestants which are the medication used for the reduction of the swelling of the nasal tissue that helps to allow free flow of air. Antihistamines are another type of medicines used to treat this condition which helps in the prevention of allergies that includes a runny nose, blocked nose or obstruction. Nasal steroid sprays are also used to reduce any kind of inflammation of the nasal passage. In extreme cases, surgical repair needs to be done. In such cases, Septoplasty which is a surgery used to repair or correct deviated nasal septum is performed.

Thus, when you experience symptoms, deviated nasal septum can be diagnosed and treated effectively.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!