For some, a deviated septum is something they’re born with, while for others, it might be the result of an injury during birth or from trauma over the years. Some childhood accidents like falls and hitting your nose might appear trivial but, taken together, these tiny incidents could result in nasal cartilage shifting over time. Thus, this may cause one of your nostrils to be narrower than the other because the septum – the wall that divides them – bends toward it.
In several ways, having a deviated septum can greatly impair your life. One finds breathing more difficult which usually makes him/her resort to mouth breathing which is less efficient and comes with its own problems like dry mouth and sore throat. It also interferes with sleep at night causing snoring or even sleep apnea resulting in daytime fatigue and inability to concentrate properly. Additionally, clogged air flow can lead to frequent sinus infections culminating in headaches as well as facial pain thus reducing your comfort levels and productivity. You may also experience decreased sense of smell that would take away enjoyment from food and other sensual experiences you normally relish in life. Besides, voice sound nasal due to nasal obstruction hence making you uncomfortable in social gatherings where confidence matters most.
Physical activities can become more challenging due to breathing difficulties, potentially leading to a more sedentary lifestyle. Over time, the constant discomfort and health issues can contribute to stress and anxiety, affecting your overall mental well-being.
How can you tell if you have a deviated septum? Typically, it shows up when you struggle to breathe well through one nostril while the other seems fine. Everyone experiences natural breathing cycles where one nostril might be more open than the other for a short time before it switches. However, with a deviated septum, one side is consistently more difficult to breathe through. A visit to the doctor often reveals this condition during a simple nasal examination.
Why consider surgery?
If you find it tough to breathe through one side of your nose, surgery could make a significant difference. The procedure, called a septoplasty, realigns the septum to the center, giving you more even airflow. But there’s more to it. Inside your nose, you have structures called turbinates, which help warm and humidify the air you breathe. If these turbinates are swollen—due to allergies or living in a place with poor air quality—they can further block your nasal passages. During septoplasty, it’s common to also reduce the size of these turbinates to maximise the breathing improvement.
How bad does it need to be for surgery?
The decision to have surgery depends on how much the deviated septum impacts your life. Some people notice a big improvement with just a small adjustment, while others with a more severe deviation might only feel partial relief. It’s also possible that issues like a narrow internal nasal valve—the area where bone meets cartilage—could be contributing to your breathing difficulties. This can be corrected during surgery by grafting cartilage from another part of your nose.
Is it worth it?
In most cases, septoplasty is worthwhile. While it may not completely solve nasal obstruction, it should greatly improve it. Breathing through your nose is more efficient than breathing through your mouth and many patients report better sleep and easier exercise after surgery. Overall, if you have trouble breathing through one side of your nose and a deviated septum is the cause, the surgery is likely to make a positive difference in your life.
(The author, Dr. Jyotirmay S Hegde, is the HOD & Lead Consultant ENT, at Aster Whitefield Hospital, in Bengaluru.)
