View the complete list of conditions

Identifying A Deviated Septum

If you need sinus relief in midtown, or are looking for a nose and throat specialist in NYC to treat a nasal septum deviation, you may need to find a clinic that does septoplasty surgery. The nasal septum is the wall that separates the right and left sides of the nose. Firm and bendable, your nasal septum holds a good supply of blood vessels and should be in the exact center of the nose, so both sides of the nose are equal in size. In 80% of people the nasal septum is slightly off center, however, most people never notice the minuscule deformity. When the nasal septum is dramatically off-center, it is called a deviated septum.

A nasal septum deviation widens one part of the nose, by narrowing the other. Altering the pattern of airflow in the nose, the narrowed side causes changes in breathing and even possibly, the complete blockage of the same side. If the sinus openings get blocked, it can cause a sinus infection or sinusitis that can last a long time or reoccur frequently. Symptoms of a deviated septum can be noticed if the altered airflow pattern in the nose causes the nasal septum’s skin to become dry and cracked. If this occurs, you may experience frequent nosebleeds and nasal discomfort. If you are suffering from chronic nosebleeds, see a nose and throat specialist in NYC for a diagnosis.

Symptoms of a deviated septum can be experienced as nasal congestion, frequent nosebleeds, frequent sinus infections, facial pain, headaches, postnasal drip, and in infants, noisy breathing during sleep. It is possible to experience these symptoms only while having a cold or another upper respiratory tract infection. When deviated septum symptoms are experienced along with a respiratory infection, the nose tissues can swell, causing airflow problems to worsen further.

At times it can be difficult to determine deviated septum causes. In diagnosing a deviated septum, a doctor will first listen to your symptoms. If they are the above-mentioned symptoms, your doctor will ask you whether you have ever experienced a broken or severely injured nose. Using a bright light and a nasal speculum, your doctor will look at the position of your nose and nasal septum. A nasal speculum instrument spreads open your nostril. If you have a deviated septum and are experiencing such symptoms, your primary care doctor in NYC will refer you to a nose and throat specialist in NYC.

If your deviated septum causes severe symptoms, septoplasty surgery may be required. In septoplasty surgery, the surgeon moves your septum to a normal position. At the same time, a surgeon can also perform rhinoplasty, reshaping the external appearance of your nose. When septoplasty and rhinoplasty procedures are done simultaneously, the surgery is called septorhinoplasty. To avoid any complications to your nose or sinus, find sinus relief in midtown.