Nasal septum Deviation: Symptoms and Treatment

Published at 04 November 2024 ، Last update 24 November 2024

Nasal septum deviation, or what is known as septal deviation, is a medical condition in which the cartilaginous septum between the nostrils is not straight and curved, which may cause a range of annoying symptoms such as shortness of breath, facial pain, and runny nose, which require appropriate treatment. (1)

Symptoms of nasal septum deviation

People with nasal septum deviation often do not show any symptoms, but when the deviation is severe, it leads to swelling of the nasal tissues, which affects the breathing pattern and leads to symptoms that usually affect one side of the nose more than the other side. (2)

Symptoms of nasal septum deviation include: (3)(2)

Blockage of one or both nostrils: which makes it difficult to breathe from one or both nostrils. You will notice that this symptom increases when you have a cold or allergies.
Nosebleeds (epistaxis): due to dryness of the nasal septum.
Facial pain and headaches.
Snoring during sleep: Because severe deviation and swelling of the nasal tissues may affect breathing during the night, causing snoring or loud breathing.
Preferring to sleep on a certain side: Because sleeping on the blocked side causes shortness of breath, the individual may prefer to sleep on the other side to improve their ability to breathe.
Increased likelihood of recurrent sinus infections and inflammation.
Awareness of the nasal breathing cycle: In a normal situation, the individual usually breathes from one side of the nose, then changes to the other side, and this is known as the nasal breathing cycle. This movement in the breathing cycle often happens smoothly without you feeling it. If you sense and feel your breathing cycle and the movement of air through your nose, this indicates a blockage or deviation in the nasal airway.

How do I know if I have a deviated nasal septum?

The only way to know if you have a deviated septum is to see a doctor for a nasal examination to detect the deviation of the septum, but you can do a self-examination of your nose to help you make the right decision by seeing a specialist doctor. (4)

Tilt your head back to see your nostrils clearly while looking in the mirror or take a picture of your nostrils from below. If your nasal septum is deviated from the middle or center line, and you notice that one nostril is larger than the other, you may have a deviated septum. (4)

Or you can try the following method: (4)

Close one of your nostrils with your finger.
Breathe through the other nostril and notice how easy or difficult it is for you.
Repeat the steps with the second nostril closed.

If you notice that you are having difficulty breathing through one or both nostrils, you may have a deviated septum. (4)

When should you see a doctor?

See a doctor immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms: (3)

Repeated nosebleeds.
Nasal congestion does not respond to prescribed treatments.
Recurrent sinusitis.

How is a deviated septum treated?

Treatment of a deviated septum depends on the severity of the symptoms and their impact on the individual's life. There are several treatment options, including the following:

1.Medications treatments

In cases that cause mild symptoms, some medications can be used to relieve the severity of symptoms, such as: (4)

Decongestants: These medications are available in the form of pills or sprays, such as Otrivin spray, and help reduce swelling of the nasal tissues and keep the airways open.

(Avoid using sprays for more than 3-5 consecutive days as they may cause an adverse effect that increases nasal congestion).

Allergy medications / antihistamines: These medications are available in the form of pills and help reduce nasal congestion and runny nose. Examples include Claritin, Iris, and Zyrtec.

Cortisone sprays: Nasonex or Rhinocort sprays reduce runny nose and swelling. You should use these sprays for a period of one to three weeks to get satisfactory results.
Saline sprays: These sprays help clear the airways and keep them open.

2.Surgery

If medications are not enough to relieve the symptoms of the nasal deviated septum, surgery may be needed to correct the deviation and reshape the nasal septum. This procedure is usually performed endoscopically or with traditional surgery depending on the case and takes only 30-90 minutes. (5)

Get to know the ENT Department at Al-Ahli Hospital, your ideal and safe destination for treating the problem of the nasal deviated septum at the hands of the most skilled doctors in Qatar.