Is a Deviated Septum the Cause of Your Breathing Problems?

We cannot live without the ability to breathe, a function we perform 10 times a minute and never stop. This complex respiratory process works by taking air in through our nose and mouth into our lungs, where oxygen is absorbed into our cells, and carbon dioxide is exhaled as a waste product. It’s vital for talking, singing, giggling, and anything else that requires air.

Breathing problems affect many basic functions of our bodies, and numerous issues can cause them. Because your nose is part of your breathing system, what role can a nasal condition like a deviated septum play in breathing issues? Let’s explore this question by examining the functions of the nose, the causes of deviated septums, and how they can affect your breathing.

Lake Oswego, Oregon, residents dealing with nasal problems like a deviated septum can find help from the medical team at Lake Grove ENT.

Functions of the nose

This sensory organ, located in the middle of your face, is more than just a part of your respiratory system, which moistens and filters the air as it enters; it also influences how you speak, is responsible for your sense of smell, and helps remove allergens and germs. The parts of the nose you see consist of:

• Root: top section, between your eyebrows

• Apex: bottom section, located between your nostrils, tapering at the tip

• Dorsum: the middle section between the root and the apex

The septum is the cartilage and bone area of the nose that separates the nostrils, leading to the sinuses where air travels through. Many complex areas lie underneath the nose you see, including the sinus cavity, turbinates, nerve cells, nose hairs, and the cilia.

Reasons for a deviated septum

The walls of cartilage in your septum divide the nostrils you breathe through, and deviations in this part of the nose happen for several reasons:

Genetics

You can be born with this problem due to inherited issues, or nasal injury in the womb, or even be damaged during delivery. The latter issues happen more commonly in the firstborn, during complex or lengthy deliveries,  or when the child’s head is larger than the vaginal opening.

Aging

Many people have a deviated septum and don’t realize it until they’re older, and the aging process weakens the cartilage over time, leading to bending and deformation.

Infection

Various viral or bacterial diseases and conditions can cause this problem, including the late stages of syphilis, leprosy, and problems with allergies, and other infections that inflame the nasal passages.

Trauma

Accidents, falls, or violent altercations can lead to nasal damage that changes the shape of the septum.

Possible effects on breathing

Often, mild cases of a deviated septum are not readily noticeable. Mild to moderate symptoms include noisy breathing, headaches, nosebleeds, chronic sinusitis, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The last condition can affect breathing while you’re sleeping, which, with a severe enough deviation, can be hazardous during sleep.

Milder to moderate cases can still affect breathing, but can be treated with conservative options like medications and corticosteroid nasal sprays. Severe deviation in the septum can affect breathing, which often requires surgery to correct, such as a septoplasty, septorhinoplasty, or turbinoplasty.

The effects of a deviated septum on breathing depend on how severe the problem is. If you’re struggling with this condition and have trouble breathing, schedule an appointment with the Lake Grove ENT team today to breathe easier.