A deviated septum is a displaced nasal septum, the thin wall between your nostrils. When this occurs, the septum usually is displaced to one side and makes one nasal passage smaller than the other. This can reduce airflow or cause breathing problems. Some people are born with a deviated septum, but it can also develop after an injury or trauma.
The most common symptom of a deviated septum is nasal congestion because one nasal passage is smaller than the other and makes the nasal passage more difficult to drain. Other symptoms include nosebleeds, facial pain, headache, postnasal drip, snoring while asleep and sleep apnea.
Medications may relieve symptoms. However, a surgical procedure called a septoplasty can repair a crooked septum and improve breathing. A septoplasty is a surgical procedure to correct a deviated septum, straighten it and reposition it in the middle of the nose. Speak with your ENT physician if you have symptoms of a deviated septum.