A deviated septum can cause problems with your breathing, making it difficult to breathe naturally through your nose. That’s not everything that a deviated septum can affect, though; you could be suffering from multiple symptoms and not realize what’s really to blame.
At SLENT, with locations in Mandeville, Slidell, Covington, and Hammond, Louisiana, our otolaryngology specialists can diagnose and repair your deviated septum and relieve multiple symptoms and chronic issues.
Your septum is the thin wall of cartilage and bone that divides your nasal cavity. When it’s not straight, you have what’s called a deviated septum. Some people are born with a deviated septum, while others can end up with a damaged and altered septum due to trauma or even inhaled drugs.
It’s estimated that around eight out of 10 people have a deviated septum, but for most it’s only a mild misalignment and causes no symptoms. For those who have a severe deviation, multiple symptoms can apply, but not all of them are automatically traced to the root cause.
Aside from difficulty breathing through one or both nostrils, the most common symptoms of a deviated septum include:
Since most of these symptoms can lead to alternate diagnoses, it can take an otolaryngologist (a specialist trained in ear, nose, and throat, or ENT services) to accurately diagnose a deviated septum and recommend treatment to help resolve issues.
The gold standard for correcting a deviated septum is a septoplasty. This can be either an open or closed surgery. With a closed endoscopic sinus surgery, your doctor can perform a less invasive procedure without an incision, using tiny cameras and tools for a faster recovery.
Septoplasty recovery usually only requires a week or two of downtime, and you’ll be completely healed in a few months. You’re likely to notice many of your symptoms resolve after a septoplasty, even ones you didn’t realize were connected to your septum deviation.
If you've been experiencing any of the symptoms of a deviated septum, especially if you’ve suffered a broken nose or facial trauma in the past, you should see an ENT to find out if there could be damage to your septum. If so, a simple procedure could give you better breathing and improved overall health.
Schedule a consultation with the team at SLENT by calling the location closest to you or visiting our contact page for more options.
