Does a deviated nasal septum affect breathing?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on February 27, 2025
00:00
00:00

A deviated nasal septum can potentially impact normal breathing, depending primarily on the severity and specific location of the deviation. If the deviation is mild and does not affect the ventilation of the nasal cavity, it will not impact normal breathing. However, if the nasal septum deviation is more pronounced, especially if it occurs in the middle, or affects the middle or front sections of the nasal cavity, it can interfere with normal airflow and lead to nasal congestion, which may affect breathing. In cases where nasal obstruction is significant and the septum deviation is severe, it is generally considered necessary to perform a septoplasty under endoscopy. After surgery, most patients can achieve effective relief and recovery.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 9sec home-news-image

Can a deviated nasal septum be manually adjusted by hand?

A deviated nasal septum cannot be manually adjusted, as the site of deviation is deep within the nasal cavity and thus inaccessible by hand. A deviated nasal septum is a common and frequent condition encountered in otolaryngology. It mainly results from abnormal nasal septum development during the embryonic stage or from postnatal trauma to the nasal septum and pressure from nasal tumors causing the septum to deviate to one side. After developing a deviated nasal septum, the patient may experience continuous, progressive nasal congestion, as well as facial swelling, pain, and headaches among other symptoms. In severe cases, the deviation may lead to complications such as sinusitis and nasal polyps, which can be diagnosed with an endoscopic examination and sinus CT scan at a hospital. In terms of treatment, minor deviations of the nasal septum do not require intervention. However, if associated symptoms are present, localized surgical correction may be necessary and can be curative.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
53sec home-news-image

Can a deviated nasal septum cause rhinitis?

A deviated septum refers to the condition where the cartilage and bone tissues of the nasal septum are skewed towards one side of the nasal cavity. This structural deviation can lead to nasal congestion, nosebleeds, and even headaches. If these symptoms are not present, it might be that the septum is deviated but not severely so. However, if these symptoms do appear, then it is necessary to address the deviated septum. There is an inevitable connection between a deviated septum and rhinitis, meaning a deviated septum will certainly lead to rhinitis. Rhinitis involves inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Therefore, the presence of a deviated septum will definitely cause rhinitis. Thus, actively treating a deviated septum greatly aids in the recovery from rhinitis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
1min 12sec home-news-image

What are the dangers of a deviated septum?

The main harms of a deviated nasal septum include several points, mainly causing uncomfortable symptoms. Firstly, the most common symptom is nasal congestion, which is often unilateral, meaning one side of the nose is blocked depending on the side the septum is deviated towards while the other side remains relatively normal. Severe deviation to one side can cause blocked sensation in the nose, or it can affect both sides leading to bilateral congestion. The type of deviation, such as a simple deviation or an S-shaped one where both the front and back are deviated in different directions, can result in blockage in both nasal passages. Another issue is nosebleeds. Sometimes, the deviated septum can form a sharp edge, making the nasal mucosa fragile or piercing other areas, which can easily cause bleeding. Additionally, it can cause headaches due to the pressure exerted on the concha of the opposite side by the deviated septum. It also leads to conditions like rhinitis and sinusitis because the deviation affects the drainage of the nasal cavities and sinuses, resulting in secondary sinusitis, which causes long-term headaches, discomfort, and a series of sinusitis symptoms.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
1min 4sec home-news-image

The main reason that a deviated septum causes headaches

In clinical practice, a deviated nasal septum can be structural, which often leads to symptoms such as nasal congestion, nosebleeds, and headaches. There are primarily two reasons why a deviated nasal septum may cause headaches. First, the deviated septum directly irritates the middle turbinate, leading to anterior ethmoid nerve syndrome and severe headaches. Second, the deviated septum may lead to secondary conditions such as rhinitis or sinusitis, which also cause headaches. Therefore, in clinical practice, surgical intervention is needed to correct a deviated nasal septum causing headaches. Before surgery, a CT scan is usually conducted to rule out sinusitis or other diseases causing the headaches. However, it is important to inform patients preoperatively that even after the surgery, headaches caused by the deviated septum may not be completely relieved or eliminated. This is crucial information to communicate to patients before the procedure.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
46sec home-news-image

Does a deviated nasal septum affect breathing?

A deviated nasal septum can potentially impact normal breathing, depending primarily on the severity and specific location of the deviation. If the deviation is mild and does not affect the ventilation of the nasal cavity, it will not impact normal breathing. However, if the nasal septum deviation is more pronounced, especially if it occurs in the middle, or affects the middle or front sections of the nasal cavity, it can interfere with normal airflow and lead to nasal congestion, which may affect breathing. In cases where nasal obstruction is significant and the septum deviation is severe, it is generally considered necessary to perform a septoplasty under endoscopy. After surgery, most patients can achieve effective relief and recovery.