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Signs of a Deviated Septum

Woman holding nose with a deviated septum suffering a headache and nasal pain.

Construction is necessary to keep our roads and highways safe and in working order. But construction also slows things down. We’ve all been stuck in a construction caused traffic jam. Even a small lane change can cause hundreds of thousands of cars on a freeway to step on their breaks–and the whole system slows down.

Now–go with me for a minute on this one–your nostrils are kind of like a highway. Air moves in and out, mucus moves in and out, and both of these functions are necessary to keep you healthy. The left nostril (or lane, if you will) and right are separated by a piece of tissue called a septum.

But when that septum is deviated–when it’s less than straight–backups in your nose can occur. This can lead to, uh, traffic jams of mucus. The point is that when things slow down, problems start to occur–and your nose won’t function as it’s supposed to.

What is a Deviated Septum?

The septum is a small strip of tissue that separates your left and right nasal passages. Ideally, this piece of tissue should be straight. However, sometimes this wall of tissue is moved to one side or another. This is what is known as a deviated septum. (So, you’re thinking: how do I get a deviated septum? Sometimes it occurs due to a traumatic event; in other cases, you might simply be born with a deviated septum.)

A deviated septum can cause some chronic issues, such as frequent (or prolonged) sinus infections or even trouble breathing or sleeping. That’s why, if you think you have a deviated septum, it’s a good idea to talk to your ENT or your healthcare provider about what your options might be.

How Do I Know If I Have a Deviated Septum?

In some cases, a deviated septum can be relatively symptomless. But that’s not true for everyone. In many cases, in fact, a deviated septum will present with definite signs. Some of the most common signs of a deviated septum include the following:

So… what problems will a deviated septum cause in you individually? It depends–you may experience all of these issues. Or you may only experience a few. Only your provider will be able to properly diagnose you.

How is a Deviated Septum Diagnosed?

Once you start experiencing the symptoms, it’s logical that you’d want to get that checked out! So, when you visit your provider or ENT, what should you expect? In general, most appointments will start with a discussion of your medical history. Your provider will likely ask about when your symptoms started, whether you’ve been snoring, and if you might have chronic sinus infections–that kind of thing. They’ll also likely want to talk about past nasal injuries or surgeries, because each of those can increase the chances that you have a deviated septum.

Your ENT will also perform a physical exam. This usually entails looking up your nose (but with specialized equipment). Your ENT may gently spread your nostrils to get a better look and see if they can identify the condition of your septum. Your ENT will look for obstructions or anything that isn’t the shape it’s supposed to be.

Your ENT may also employ several diagnostics, such as the following:

Once your ENT has done all these tests, they’re usually able to diagnose you with a deviated septum (or rule it out if your septum is straight).

How Do You Fix a Deviated Septum?

Of course, once you know you have a deviated septum, the next step is treatment. There are several approaches to deviated septum treatment, including the following:

Non Surgical Approaches

Surgical Approaches

Get the Help You Need

Unless you’re a construction worker, most road work will eventually go away–or at least stop interfering with your commute. But that’s not the case with a deviated septum. Those traffic jams will keep happening unless you take steps to treat your condition.

So… Think you might have a deviated septum? Find an ENT near you to know for sure.

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