Treating a deviated septum

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Published December 13, 2016

A deviated septum is a condition that affects many people, but some may not even know they have it. The condition refers to when the thin wall between your nasal passages, called your septum, is displaced to one side, making one passage smaller than the other.

According to the Mayo Clinic, this can cause:

Difficulty breathing through one side of your nose
Nosebleeds caused by dry nasal passages
Noisy breathing during sleep
Dry mouth
Congestion

A deviated septum can be congenital or can be caused by an injury to the nose. To treat it you can try:

Decongestants to reduce swelling and allow better airflow
Antihistamines
Nasal steroid sprays

These suggestions treat the symptoms of a deviated septum but they don’t fix the problem. The only way to correct the condition is with surgery. It is an outpatient procedure called a septoplasty done with either local or general anesthetic.

Before you try any new medications or make any lifestyle changes, consult your doctor.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/health/treating-a-deviated-septum