What is a Deviated Septum?
The nasal septum is a thin wall made of bone and cartilage that separates your nasal passages. The septum is supposed to be perfectly straight, but this is not the case for everyone. If the bone and cartilage in the septum become crooked, you will have a deviated septum. While most people have some deviation in their septum without any complications, a major deviation can cause a lot of breathing and sinus problems. If you have been suffering from consistent breathing issues, you may want to get your nose checked out to determine if you have a deviated septum.
Severe nasal congestion is the most common symptom of a deviated septum. Since the bone and cartilage in the nose is crooked, the nasal congestion will be more severe in one side of the nose. Sinus infections are also a very common sign of a deviated septum. Some of the other primary symptoms of include postnasal drip, nosebleeds, snoring, and sinus pain on the face.
The biggest problem with this condition is that most people go years before finding out they have a deviated septum. You do not need an extremely crooked nose to suffer from this condition. A lot of people are born with a minor deviation in their nasal septum, so they just think they have been suffering from severe allergies most of their life. A deviated septum is much easier to diagnose if it occurs after a traumatic injury to the nose.
Dr. Leeman will likely diagnose a deviated septum with a special device called a nasal speculum. This will allow him to examine the inside of your nose. The nasal tissues will also be examined at this time. If there are any abnormalities, then Dr. Leeman will help you explore your treatment options.
You may need to undergo a special type of surgery called septoplasty to correct your deviated septum. Your procedure will be personalized to meet your specific needs, but in general, the surgery involves straightening the septum to provide even breathing spaces in the nostrils. Typically, septoplasty can correct conditions such as postnasal drip, sinus infection, and unusually frequent nosebleeds.
If your deviated septum is negatively impacting your health, you may be able to benefit from a septoplasty procedure provided at the office of Daniel J. Leeman, MD. To find out if this procedure is right for you, contact our office in Austin today and schedule your consultation.