Warning Signs of a Deviated Septum

None of us are perfect and we all have some minor “faults” in our appearance which make our faces and bodies asymmetrical. Sometimes, they are not very prominent, but sometimes, we notice them straightaway.

Image credit: luigi diamanti | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Such is the case with noses. They are not easy to cover or change, so a crooked nose is easy to spot. A great number of people have deviated septums, even if they’re not clearly visible from the outside.

It seems like a harmless condition, but deviated septum can make your life complicated and difficult.

Do you have problem breathing?

If you have a misaligned septum, it is likely that you will have trouble breathing, a condition that only gets worse if you have allergies, or in case you get sick, your nasal passages swell and become narrow.

Passage of air through your nostrils and to your lungs is obstructed, and you cannot breathe properly. The misaligned septum will be removed and you will be able to breathe freely.

Are you sleeping well?

Trying to sleep when you have allergies and/or a cold is frustrating enough, and now imagine having to go through all that every night. You might not notice, but loud snoring, gasping for breath and tossing around your bed make you wake up tired and with a headache.

If you have a deviated septum, it is likely that you are not sleeping well. And what is even more important (and more dangerous), it can contribute to sleep apnea. This is a severe sleep disorder which makes you stop breathing for a while every night.

Do you often experience sinus infections and cold symptoms?

If you often have a cold but somehow medications don’t seem to help you at all, maybe you have a deviated septum. Sinus infections are often caused by a clogged airway, thus you find yourself with a runny nose, headaches, sneezing – all cases of a common cold which somehow won’t go away.

If your case of sinusitis seems to be incurable, maybe it is because your nasal structure is damaged.

Does your nose bleed often?

If you are experiencing nosebleeds often, it is necessary to undergo septoplasty as soon as possible. Nosebleeds are often followed by severe headaches which indicate that the septum is being infected.

Septoplasty is a surgery where excess bone or cartilage is removed to make more breathing space in the nostrils, and is commonly performed with rhinoplasty to restore or improve the visual appearance of the nose.

Are you experiencing facial pain and headaches?

Pain located around your nose and sinuses often indicate that there is something wrong with your septum. Feeling “clogged up” most of the time is not pleasant, and you should go see a doctor if you notice this feeling is often present.

There are cases when this pain is caused by no less than nasal septum touching the outside of your nose. If this is what is happening to you, see your doctor and schedule septoplasty, since that is the case of severely deviated septum.

Even though deviated septum causes a lot of health problems, luckily, it can be surgically repaired. You should, however, be older than 15, which is the age when the nose stops growing, to undergo septoplasty.

If you recognize any of these symptoms, visit an ear, nose throat doctor to get a diagnose and be 100% sure before you schedule surgery.