鼻中隔彎曲會影響呼吸嗎？專業解析與改善方法

Does a Deviated Septum Affect Breathing? Expert Explanation and Ways to Improve It



Introduction
Do you often feel your nose is blocked and your breathing isn't smooth? Or are you often troubled by nasal congestion and headaches? These symptoms may be related to a deviated septum. A deviated septum means the nasal septum, which divides the left and right nasal passages, is off the midline, which can cause difficulty breathing, nasal congestion, snoring and other problems. This article takes an in-depth look at the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and post-operative care of a deviated septum, to help you breathe freely again, improve your quality of life and significantly improve your athletic results. Taiwan's National Health Insurance also subsidises corrective surgery for functional impairment, reducing the cost of treatment.

Main symptoms and effects of a deviated septum

The nasal septum is a wall of cartilage and bone in the middle of the nasal cavity that separates the left and right nostrils. It plays an important role in stabilising and regulating airflow in the nose and supporting the nasal lining and the external nose. A deviated septum disrupts airflow inside the nose and irritates the nasal lining over the long term, drying it out and triggering a range of discomforts and symptoms.

Common symptoms of a deviated septum

  • Nasal congestion: the most common symptom, affecting one or both sides. A deviated septum narrows one or both nasal passages, affecting airflow and causing a blocked feeling. Congestion affects how smoothly you breathe, especially during exercise, which in turn affects athletic performance.
    • For example, a basketball player may need to breathe through their mouth more often during a game because of congestion, leading to lower stamina and affecting their performance.
  • Difficulty breathing: when the nasal cavity is deformed and air doesn't flow freely, breathing feels like hard work. A severely deviated septum can cause difficulty breathing, especially during exercise or sleep. Poor breathing directly affects oxygen supply during exercise and reduces endurance.
  • Snoring: increased nasal resistance may lead to poor breathing and snoring. Congestion caused by a deviated septum makes breathing less smooth during sleep, which can trigger snoring. Long-term snoring not only affects sleep quality but may also lead to sleep apnea, affecting health.
  • Nosebleeds: the lining at the bend of the septum easily dries, cracks or gets irritated, causing nosebleeds. A deviated septum makes the nasal lining thin and fragile, so it bleeds easily from dryness, friction or external force. Heavy breathing during exercise can also dry out the nasal lining further and increase the risk of nosebleeds.
  • Headache or facial pressure: with accompanying sinusitis, you may feel discomfort in the forehead, around the eyes or in the cheeks. A deviated septum may affect ventilation and drainage of the sinuses, leading to sinusitis, which can cause headaches or facial pressure.
  • Changes in sense of smell: blocked airflow makes it hard for odour molecules to reach the olfactory area, reducing the sense of smell. A severely deviated septum may prevent odour molecules from reaching the olfactory area, reducing the sense of smell.
  • Chronic rhinitis or sinusitis: the deviation affects ventilation and drainage of the nose, making sinus infections more likely, shown by a runny nose, postnasal drip and worsening congestion. A deviated septum affects normal nasal function and easily leads to chronic rhinitis or sinusitis, worsening congestion, a runny nose and other symptoms.
  • Sleep problems: long-term congestion disturbs sleep, easily causes dark circles and may even lead to sleep apnea (snoring).
  • Unconscious mouth breathing: causes a dry mouth and sore throat.

Common causes of a deviated septum

There are many causes of a deviated septum, which can be divided into congenital and acquired.

Congenital factors

  • Pressure at birth: during delivery, the baby's nose may be compressed, causing the septum to deviate. Some people are born with it — it may have formed while developing in the womb — but there may be no symptoms at first.
  • Developmental deviation: during puberty or childhood growth, the nasal bone and cartilage develop at different rates, causing the septum to gradually bend.

Acquired factors

  • Injury: a blow to the nose, a fall, a fight or a sports injury can all shift the septum and cause a crooked nose.
  • Chronic nasal conditions: long-term rhinitis, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and other chronic nasal conditions may affect the internal structure of the nose, causing or worsening a deviated septum.
  • Bad habits: habits such as picking the nose as a child may also cause a deviated septum.

Further reading: The Causes of Nasal Congestion Revealed: Why Is Only One Side Blocked?

Diagnosis and examination of a deviated septum

A deviated septum is usually diagnosed by an ENT doctor, who uses the following methods to confirm the diagnosis:

Medical history

The doctor asks about the patient's symptoms, medical history and related habits to understand how severe and how long-lasting symptoms such as congestion, difficulty breathing and snoring are.

Nasal examination

  • Rhinoscopy: the doctor uses a nasal speculum to look at the internal structure of the nose and assess the degree and location of the deviation.
  • Endoscopy: the doctor uses an endoscope to look more deeply into the nasal cavity and sinuses to rule out other conditions, such as nasal polyps or sinusitis.

Other tests

  • Nasal resistance test: measures airflow resistance in the nose to assess how severe the congestion is.
  • X-ray or CT scan: in some cases, the doctor may recommend an X-ray or CT scan to understand the structure of the nasal cavity and sinuses in more detail.

Medication and surgical options for a deviated septum

Treatment for a deviated septum is mainly divided into medication and surgery. The doctor chooses the most suitable treatment plan based on the patient's symptoms, the degree of deviation and overall health.

Medication

Medication is mainly used to relieve symptoms caused by a deviated septum; it cannot correct the deviation. Common medications include:
  • Nasal sprays: such as steroid nasal sprays, which reduce swelling of the nasal lining and improve breathing.
  • Oral antihistamines: relieve congestion, a runny nose and other symptoms caused by allergic rhinitis.
  • Nasal mucus regulators: suitable for people with mild symptoms.

Surgery

Surgery is the main way to correct a deviated septum. Its aim is to realign the deviated septum to the centre and restore normal ventilation of the nose. Surgical options include:
  • Septoplasty: for people with obvious symptoms that affect their quality of life; the aim is to realign the deviated septum to the centre.
    • Traditional surgery: an opening is made about 1 cm from the end of the septum, the cartilage and bone of the septum are separated, and the deviated cartilage is removed under direct vision, keeping an L-shaped strut of cartilage to maintain the structure of the nose. In principle it's completed in a single procedure; after removal, sutures are used to secure it, and enlarged inferior turbinates are reduced.
    • Endoscopic septoplasty: under local or general anaesthesia as appropriate, an endoscope is inserted to the deviated area to precisely correct the septum, solving congestion at the root. It reduces bleeding, speeds up wound healing, preserves the function of the nasal lining and reduces pain. There's less bleeding than with traditional surgery, it's completed in about an hour, anaesthesia time is short, and there's less pain afterwards, so you can quickly regain your strength and return to work as usual.
  • Functional rhinoplasty: can improve both breathing function and appearance (such as a hump, crooked nose or flat nose). The procedure fully assesses the overall structure — septum, nasal bone, nostrils and nasal tip — and makes comprehensive adjustments. Rhinoplasty may be combined with autologous rib cartilage grafts, nasal bridge reconstruction and tip shaping; the advantage is improvement in both appearance and function, improving facial proportions and congestion.

Recovery and care after deviated septum surgery

The recovery period after deviated septum surgery needs special attention to ensure good results and prevent complications.

Things to note after surgery

  • Rest: rest well after surgery and avoid strenuous exercise and heavy physical work.
  • Nasal cleaning: your doctor may recommend rinsing the nose with saline to keep it moist and clean.
  • Medication: take medication such as painkillers and antibiotics as directed by your doctor.
  • Avoid irritants: avoid smoking, drinking and strong odours to reduce irritation to the nose.
  • Regular follow-ups: attend follow-up appointments as scheduled by your doctor to monitor recovery.

Post-operative care tips

  • Keep the nose moist: use a humidifier or place a bowl of water in the room to increase humidity.
  • Don't blow your nose hard: blow gently and avoid excessive force to prevent bleeding.
  • Diet: eat light, easy-to-digest food and avoid spicy or irritating food.
  • Sleep: raise your head when sleeping to reduce nasal congestion.
Conclusion
A deviated septum is a common nasal problem that can cause difficulty breathing, nasal congestion, snoring and other symptoms, affecting quality of life and athletic perfor

mance. Early diagnosis and treatment of a deviated septum




can effectively improve breathing, make daily life more comfortable and help you achieve better results in sport. If you have long been troubled by a deviated septum, we recommend consulting a professional ENT doctor to find the right solution, so every breath is easier and your athletic performance reaches the next level! Deviated septum surgery, combined with proper post-operative care, can help you get rid of nasal congestion and breathe more freely, and the causes of snoring can also be addressed.

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