The curved nasal septum makes breathing difficult, is to blame for the incessant runny nose, promotes recurrent infections of the upper respiratory tract. This defect can be removed surgically. Nasal septum surgery is a procedure that greatly improves the quality of life.

Nasal septum curvaturecan cause serious he alth problems, so if your doctor determines thatsurgeryis necessary, do not procrastinate. Marzena has had difficulty breathing and an eternal runny nose for over 15 years. When one infection ended, the next one started after a few days.

- I went to the ENT specialist, but the treatment did not bring any significant improvement. Actually, I was convinced that it must be so - he says. Recently, she decided to finally deal with this ailment. - I went to the ENT specialist who, after carrying out the appropriate tests, stated that the cause of my problems with recurring infections and breathing difficulties was the curvature of the nasal septum. I was surprised by such a diagnosis, because no one had even mentioned it before - says Marzena.

The doctor suggested a nasal surgery by correcting the nasal septum. - I had a lot of anxiety, but difficult breathing, especially during swimming or other physical exertion, bothered me so much that I decided to undergo a procedure under he alth insurance in the National He alth Fund. An additional argument for conducting it was the information that breathing difficulties cause hypoxia of the whole organism, and this-as you know - has a negative impact on its condition, the functioning of individual organs, i.e. also on life span - underlines.

Before the nose surgery Marzena did some basic research, incl. determination of the blood group, EKG, X-ray. The procedure was performed under full anesthesia. Doctors straightened the nasal septum, which involved the removal of a bone fragment. Then the soft parts of the partition were sewn together with dissolving seams.

- The straightening of the nasal septum was not an unpleasant experience, for which I was prepared. I spent 3 days in the hospital. For a few days I had a slightly swollen nose, but it was not very visible - explains Marzena. After the operation, she was still at two follow-up visits, during which the rest of the sutures were removed. - I am very glad that I decided to do itprocedure. I recommend it now to everyone who has breathing problems and a constant runny nose. Soon my 17-year-old son will undergo the same surgery. Now I breathe fully and I have no limits to enjoy swimming or cycling, she emphasizes.

Important

The septum that divides the nose

The nasal septum is the scaffolding for the soft tissues of the nose. It divides it in half, reaching from the tip of the nose to the throat, and is about 10 cm long. The initial section is made of cartilage, and the deeper section is made of bone. The curvature of the septum may affect any part of it, both made of cartilage and bone. It affects the patency of the nose, but also the proper flow of air through the structures responsible for the functioning of the sinuses. Usually curvature does not change the appearance of the face.

Read also: Endoscopic sinus surgery. How is chronic paranasal sinusitis treated?

Why is the nasal septum curved?

There are many reasons for the curvature of the nasal septum. It can be a birth defect, but it can also be a result of childbirth. A baby who has squeezed through the birth canal during birth usually has a badly flattened nose. Some newborns experience spontaneous nose straightening within a few weeks. In others, only some soft tissues of the nasal septum return to their place, while others remain crooked.

The cause of the curvature of the nose are injuries that occur while playing or playing sports. They happen to boys more often because they are usually less careful than girls.

When does the nose need to be operated on?

After the examination, it is the ENT specialist who decides whether a nose operation is necessary. The nasal septum eventually forms between the ages of 20 and 25. Some specialists believe that it is better to wait with the operation until then and perform one corrective procedure.

The procedure under the National He alth Fund requires a short stay in the hospital. It is performed using a classical technique. It is necessary to refer to a hospital, which is issued by an ENT specialist (for this specialist, a referral from a general practitioner is also required). Dressings in the form of bandages or rubber fingers should be worn for several days. Unfortunately, you have to sign up for the treatment under the insurance, the queue is long

The modern procedure is performed under sedation, i.e. after intravenous administration of a mild hypnotic agent. It is minimally invasive, but after it you need to protect your nose against injuries, so do not play sports, go to the gym or the swimming pool for several days. Sometimes it is necessary to take (as part of the cover) antibiotics. The effect of the treatmentit is permanent as long as the nose is not injured. For an operation in a private clinic you have to pay 4-5 thousand. PLN.

Read also: Rhinoplasty. What does the correction of a crooked and humped nose look like?

The crooked nasal septum is no small thing

Deformation of the nasal septum can already be noticed in a breastfed newborn. If the baby has a distorted septum, he often pulls away from his breast to breathe air with his mouth and chokes on milk. Both children and adults with such a defect usually breathe through the mouth. This is easiest to observe while sleeping.

  • The nose with a curved septum cleans less well, and the residual secretion flows down the throat.

  • This makes her swallow and cough up more often.

  • The lingering discharge causes inflammation of the throat and sinuses.

  • People with a deviated septum hear worse, have a weaker sense of smell and suffer more from headaches.

  • They also have trouble doing sports because they are out of breath.

  • There are also more frequent problems with equalizing air pressure when flying in an airplane (they experience pain in their sinuses and ears then).

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ENT