Deviated septum can hinder breathing

Deviated septum can hinder breathing

January 3, 2017

The wall between your nostrils, called the septum, has an important job. Its combination of bone and cartilage give your nose its shape. It also assures that the flow of air through your nasal passages remains constant.

But sometimes, either through genetics or injury, the septum is deviated -- too crooked or lopsided to do its job. The results can include breathing problems, headaches, sinus infections and snoring. Fortunately, it’s usually easy to fix.

For some, medications to help drain the sinuses and reduce swelling can take care of the problems. In other cases, surgery might be necessary.

The procedure is performed through the nostrils and involves repositioning, reshaping, or removing sections of the septum to correct its position. Septoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure. It may be performed with general or local anesthesia.

Following surgery, the nasal passages are packed with gauze and medication to collect drainage and prevent infection. A rhinoplasty, an elective surgery to reshape the nose, may be performed at the same time as a septoplasty.