Will Correcting a Deviated Septum Improve My Breathing?
Do you have trouble breathing through your nose due to a deviated septum? This medical condition can make it hard to breathe easily when one side of your nasal passage is smaller than the other—but the right treatment can help correct that. We’ll go over how this condition affects breathing and what kinds of treatments are available.
What Is a Deviated Septum?
Your nose has a wall of bone and cartilage that separates your nasal passages. When this wall isn’t right in the center of your nose, it is called a deviated septum. This condition doesn’t always cause problems. But it can lead to congestion and other issues if it’s severely off-center.
Injuries can cause a deviated septum in some people. In others, it’s present at birth. Infections and aging can also cause this condition.
How Does It Affect Breathing?
A minor deviation might not lead to any breathing problems. However, a severe deviation can make one nasal passage much smaller than the other. This can result in the following breathing issues:
- Trouble breathing through one or both nostrils
- Increased difficulty breathing when respiratory illnesses or allergies lead to nasal swelling
- Snoring or loud breathing while sleeping
Having one nasal passage that’s narrower than the other might also cause you to prefer sleeping on one side, so you can breathe more easily. You might also experience facial soreness on the affected side and/or have frequent nosebleeds.
When to Seek Treatment
Are breathing difficulties affecting your day-to-day activities? Or do you have trouble sleeping comfortably due to these problems? You might have a deviated septum that’s severe enough to cause these symptoms. Seeking treatment can help correct this condition, bringing you relief and more comfortable breathing.
How Does Treatment Improve Breathing?
Depending on how severe the deviation is, you might try medications to manage symptoms first. But these medicines, such as decongestants, might not be enough to help you breathe better.
A procedure called septoplasty offers a more effective way to help improve breathing through your nose. This involves straightening or repositioning the nasal septum, so that both nasal passages are about the same size. Making this correction allows air to flow through both nostrils more easily. Other benefits of this procedure may include:
- Improved sinus drainage for fewer infections
- Reduced snoring
What to Expect with Treatment
Undergoing a septoplasty for a deviated septum is typically an outpatient procedure. You’ll be under general anesthesia during surgery, so you won’t feel anything. After it’s done, you might have some pain in the treated area. Note that it can take several months for the septum to completely heal.
Visit Us for ENT Services in Grand Blanc
Are you ready to discuss treatment for a deviated septum? At Michigan Nose and Sinus Health, we offer corrective procedures for this medical condition. Set up an appointment with our board-certified otolaryngologist, Dr. J. Martin Ulrich, to explore your options for treatment to ease symptoms—and enjoy better breathing.
