The expert spoke about the health effects of a curved septum

Curvature of the nasal septum occurs in most people and does not always require surgery, but persistent nasal congestion, sleep disorders, and frequent inflammation may indicate the need for surgery. Nikita Danilin, an otorhinolaryngologist at the SM Clinic, told Izvestia about this on July 9.

According to the specialist, the curvature of the septum itself is not a direct indication for surgery. The decision on surgical intervention is made taking into account not only the results of the examination, but also the symptoms that affect the patient's quality of life.

"The main sign worth paying attention to is persistent difficulty in nasal breathing. If a person constantly breathes through their mouth, regularly uses vasoconstrictor drops, or feels that one half of their nose is practically not breathing, this is a reason to consult a specialist," said Danilin.

He explained that a violation of the passage of air through the nose can lead to snoring, poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, increased fatigue, decreased concentration and frequent headaches.

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Among the main causes, doctors cite obesity, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity.

The doctor mentioned regular diseases of the ENT organs as another reason for the examination. Due to the curvature of the septum, ventilation of the paranasal sinuses may be disrupted, which increases the risk of sinusitis and prolonged inflammatory processes.

According to Danilin, frequent nosebleeds and decreased sense of smell can also indicate possible problems. When the septum is deformed, the mucous membrane can dry out and be injured more often, and disruption of air movement can worsen the perception of odors.

"For years, many patients have perceived poor nasal breathing as their own peculiarity and do not associate sleep disorders or constant discomfort with it. However, after the cause is eliminated, the quality of life changes very noticeably," the specialist emphasized.

The ENT doctor noted that the main method of surgical correction is septoplasty. During the operation, deformed sections of the septum are eliminated, which makes it possible to restore the normal passage of air through the nasal passages.

On July 7, Marina Soltanova, an otolaryngologist at SM Clinic, said that headphones with accumulated impurities can harm not only the skin, but also the health of the external auditory canal. The specialist clarified that one of the common causes of otitis externa — inflammation of the skin of the ear canal — is precisely the insufficiently clean headphones.