8 Responses to “The Deviated Septum Myth”

1. Tracey on February 4th, 2010 11:12 am

    
   My son was born with a "deviated septum" – as well as a small lower jaw and tongue – he has an underbit – he has surgery 2 years ago to correct his tongue and septum.  The surgery did not work – and he continues to complain of inability to breath through his nose and headaches at 21 years.  The dentist wants to re-align his jaw – but that is also an awful surgery..   What should be our next steps?

2. bryan on February 22nd, 2011 4:32 am

   i suffer from a deviated septum for 3 years now. 2 years ago i got a septoplasty surgery, it did not work. i then went to another ent and got another septoplasy surgery done, it still didnt work. i dont know what to do

3. Steven Park on February 22nd, 2011 4:34 am

   Bryan,

   As I pointed out in the article, having a deviated septum is not the only reason for a stuffy nose. You also have to address the nasal turbinates as well as the nasal valves. Did you ever try using Breathe Rite strips to lift up your nostrils?

4. Don Smith on February 10th, 2012 10:12 am

   Wouldn’t a deviated septum cause breathing problems in one nostril but not the other depending on the configuration of the deviation?

5. Steven Park on February 10th, 2012 10:20 am

   Mr. Smith,

   You would think so, but the configuration of your nasal turbinates and the flimsiness of your nostrils can determine how well you can breathe through the nostril opposite the septal deviation. For example, increased air flow through the good side can cause forces that promote nostril collapse, depending on how flimsy your nostrils are. This is why Breathe Right Strips work occasionally, but not in everyone. It’s also important to address any allergies or sinus issues as well.

6. Wendell on February 24th, 2012 1:01 am

   Dr Park,

   I was very interested in this myth because I suffered a severe nose fracture long ago, It was addressed by manual re positioning and no follow up due to it being military related, I was later diagnosed with a deviated septum with 80 and 90% blockage of my nasal passages, Now some 20 years beyond that I have been given a diagnosis of Obstructive sleep apnea although I do not suffer from the majority of the common contributing factors, weight is good, not diabetic, neck is less than 16 inches at 5’9″ 160 lbs, I am 51. I am a smoker and I have been on long term treatment with anti depressants.

7. Richard Carlson on June 27th, 2012 6:52 pm

   I have a deviated septum and suffer from disrupted sleep. Is it possible that the deviated septum can cause sleep apnea? At age 78, I exercise strenuously and have no weight problem.

8. Steve Morrow on May 15th, 2013 10:52 pm

   Hello,

   I am trying to get some advice on how to handle my deviated septum issue. I was diagnosed with this condition by an allergy specialist years ago. I went through the regular allergic tests to my skin and was told later that the deviated septum was causing my allergies.

   This made sense since I broke my nose when I was in my 20s. Now to top this I was also born with a hair lip cleft palate and only had minor surgery to correct it when I was younger.

   So my question is can a deviated septum be forcing me to wake up every other hour? I ask since I have never really slept (at most) 4 hours in the last several years. I can feel my heart racing a lot too which makes it hard to fall asleep.

   I will be seeing a physician soon, but found your video on YouTube.

   I appreciate any information you can offer. Thank you.

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