While you may or may not recognize right off the bat that you have a deviation in your septum (a condition where the inner dividing cartilage in the center of your nose is pushed to one side or the other rather than remaining straight and in the middle as it is supposed to) if you have one, you most certainly will notice the symptoms.

If you experience snoring or louder than normal breathing at night, headaches, sinus issues, facial pain, nosebleeds, sleep apnea or post nasal drip it could be a deviated septum.

While some are born with the deviation others sustain an injury to their nose via trauma. Whether genetic or injury induced, the results are the same. It is hard to breathe properly, snoring can keep your partner awake at night, sleep apnea can result in constantly feeling tired or other health issues, and sinus problems may persist indefinitely. Visually the nose may have a non-symmetrical look.

Correction of a deviation generally requires surgery, especially when medication does not help the symptoms. Deviated septum surgery is often combined with a rhinoplasty (nose job) to straighten the visual appearance of the nose. The surgery is outpatient usually under a general anesthesia. Once the anesthesia wears off (4 hours or so later) the patient may be driven home to rest and recover.

Deviation correction is not recommended until after age 15 when the nose has stopped growing. There will be bruising and swelling after the surgery, ice, rest, and medication, as prescribed, are recommended. If the deviation is only mild a balloon septoplasty may be suggested to avoid the actual surgery.

These procedures have a high rate of success with many patients remarking that they only wish they had done it sooner. If you are having nasal issues and think you may possibly be living with a deviated septum, it is important to schedule an appointment to see an ear, nose, and throat doctor, or ENT.

If you are in the Lee County Florida area we invite you to use our Independent Physicians of Lee County Directory and Referral Service by going to www.ipalc.org/find.