Our noses play a critical role in how comfortably we can go about our lives. When your nose isn’t performing its best, it can make many activities difficult. One reason why your nose may be giving you trouble can be because of a deviated septum. Here are a few points on the problems a deviated septum can cause and how you can correct the issue.
What Does the Septum Do
Your nose has an important job for your body. It helps you take in your favorite smells, warms the air you breathe, and helps protect your body from germs that make you sick. Sometimes parts of the nose can cause some trouble. The septum directs the air from your nostrils to the back of your nose and lungs. Without the septum, it would make breathing challenging, as the air would enter your nose without a place to go.
Causes of a Deviated Septum
An ideally structured septum is shaped in a straight line in an up-and-down direction. Some people don’t have the ideal structure in their septum and suffer as a result.
Sometimes the septum loses its shape from trauma to the nose, or some people’s septum naturally deviates as it develops in childhood.
Symptoms of a Deviated Septum
A deviated septum can make breathing miserable and wreak havoc on your daily life. A deviated septum can cause symptoms such as:
- Reduced airflow
- Congestion on one side of your nose
- Chronic sinus infections
- Snoring
The symptoms of a deviated septum can ruin the quality of your sleep and leave you exhausted in the morning.
Seeing a medical professional is your best bet for an official diagnosis.
Diagnosing and Treating a Deviated Septum
Your ENT professional uses tools such as a physical examination and a nasal endoscopy to look for signs of a deviated septum.
Once confirmed, your ENT specialist makes a plan for treating a deviated septum based on your needs.
Treatment options may include nasal decongestants, antihistamines, or nasal sprays. But, medications may not be enough to solve the problem. In this case, a septoplasty may be a long-term solution to help address the issue at its source. An experienced professional can determine the best course of action for your situation.
To learn more about your treatment options, we can help. Call our St. Louis or Festus office to schedule a consultation by calling (314).473.5433.
