WHAT IS A DEVIATED SEPTUM & WHEN IS SURGERY NEEDED TO FIX IT?

Your struggles with nasal congestion, poor sleep or trouble breathing through your nose could point to something you may not have considered — a deviated septum.

WHAT IS A DEVIATED SEPTUM?

“ The thin wall of bone, cartilage and tissue that separates our two nasal passages is called the septum,” explained Dr. Danny Wong, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist with Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital. “When a septum is deviated, it is displaced or off-center, so the nasal passages are uneven. And any deviation can cause symptoms.”

Deviated septum symptoms include:

■ Stuff y nose (on one or both sides)

■ Trouble breathing through the nose

■ Mouth breathing, especially noticeable during exercise

■ Trouble sleeping or snoring

■ Higher incidence of nosebleeds and nasal infections

■ Headaches

■ Poor sense of smell

■ Postnasal drip or runny nose

WHAT ARE DEVIATED SEPTUM SYMPTOMS?

“You can be born with this condition, or a deviation can occur as a result of trauma or injury,” Wong clarified. “A contact injury can change the shape of the flexible cartilage that makes up the septum. And if the injury occurs during childhood, the cartilage and bone are spongier and more easily manipulated.”

So me deviations are easy to see, but in many cases, deviations aren’t noticeable since the nasal cavity and nasal passages stretch back inward about three inches.

The best course of action for those experiencing symptoms of a deviated septum is to consult an ENT doctor. These specialists have the necessary tools to rule out or confirm whether your septum has deviated and, if so, how severe.

HOW IS A DEVIATED SEPTUM TREATED?

Treatment depends on the severity.

You can manage minor deviations with nasal steroid sprays, decongestants or antihistamines.

According to Wong, deviated septum surgery — also called septoplasty — is the only way to open an obstructed nasal airway. Ths outpatient surgery takes about an hour and involves correcting structural problems using special surgical instruments. There are no incisions on the outside as the surgery occurs through the inside of the nose.

WHEN IS DEVIATED SEPTUM SURGERY NECESSARY?

Many people fid symptomatic relief with medications, but surgery is for those with major structural issues or those who don’t respond to medications.

“For patients really obstructed, we recommend surgery,” said Wong. “We let the patient know that we can try medications, but to fid true symptom relief, severe displacement problems in the septum almost always require surgery.”

“After this outpatient surgery, you’ll need to rest and avoid full-on exercising, but symptom relief can be noticed in as little as one or two weeks,” Wong added. “By three months, the improvements are so great that people tell me what a game changer this surgery was for them.” •