Can a deviated septum get worse over time? Causes & symptoms?

The deviated septum can occur if the thin wall that segregates the nasal passage is displaced or is irregular in shape. It leads to a narrow passage and creates trouble at the time of breathing.

In many people, this condition is inborn, but problems can arise due to injuries owing to a vehicle accident, contact sports incident or other injuries.

The cartilage being softer than bones suffers immense damage accompanied by bone fractures.

When the condition of a deviated septum is critical, it reduces the airflow causing complications in breathing.

The situation eventually gets worse as people age. A deviated septum leads to the swelling of tissues linning between the nose.

Some people can also experience crusting or bleeding in their nose.

Symptoms of deviated septum:

Most people are ignorant about their septal deformities until and unless they experience these prevalent symptoms.

● Obstruction of nostrils: The blockage will make it difficult to breathe through one or both of the nostrils. It can be noticed during the cold allergies that swell the nasal passage.

● Facial pain: It is debatable, yet one-sided facial pain can be due to the deviated septum.

● Nose bleeding: The surface of the nasal septum can dry out triggering chances of nose bleeding.

● Awareness of the nasal cycle: It is normal for the nose to alternate when it feels an obstruction in breathing, and again alternate when obstructed on the other side. This is a nasal cycle, but being aware of it indicates a nasal obstruction.

● Noisy breathing while sleep: Having a deviated septum or swelling of the nasal tissues can cause noise during sleep.

● Sleeping preferences on a specific side: Some people prefer to sleep in a specific side to optimize their breathing through the nose as their nasal passage is confined.

Causes of a deviated septum

● Developed during the birth: In few peoples, the deviated septum can be developed during the fetal stage and becomes apparent at the time of birth.

● Injury in the nose: A deviated septum can also be a result of damage and injury in the nose. In a child, an injury may happen at the time of birth. While in cases of adults and kids, it can be due to contact sports, an automobile accident and other causes which ultimately dislodge the nasal septum from its original position.

Complications in deviated septum:

The nasal blockage can cause several complications like :

● Dry mouth: Due to chronic breathing from mouth, it can create dry mouth problems.

● Disturbed sleep: The nasal blockage will cause disturbances in the sleep hour.

● Nasal obstruction: Infections like swelling and inflammation of sinus cavities or nasal cavities can additionally narrow the passage of a deviated septum.

● Feeling the pressure: There can be increased congestion in the nasal passage due to deviated septum.

● Ageing: Ageing can also worsen the condition of a deviated septum.

When to see a doctor for treatment:

If you feel the conditions are getting worse day by day, then its time to see a doctor.

You can consider an ENT Hospital in Chennai to treat your deviated septum problem.

The treatment procedure entails and focuses on a two-fold level.

The first step includes medicines that treat and avert the swelling and congestive symptoms, that restricts breathing along with the deviated septum condition.

As the swollen mucous are receded, the breathing returns to its normal flow. The next step is to proceed for surgery when the mucous membranes are healthy, but breathing problems persist.

Through septoplasty, the septum is relocated to its original position at the centre. The cartilage of the septum is reshaped and straighten to remove the deviation. This fixes every issue related to breathing, and the patient can now inhale properly.

Taking precautions like wearing seatbelts and helmets can reduce the risk of deviated septum caused by accidents.

Besides, choosing an experienced ENT specialist and treating the condition is the primary step towards comfortable breathing.

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