What Causes a Deviated Septum?
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What is a Deviated Septum?
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The nasal septum is a narrow wall of bone and cartilage which acts as a dividing line between the two nostrils. The septum can deviate away from the center line of the nose. This results in problems in breathing through the nose as more air passes through one nostril than the other. More systemic problems include sinus-pressure headaches, poor sinus drainage, sleep apnea and excessive snoring.
Blunt Trauma
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A deviated septum can be most commonly caused by sudden blunt trauma. Any impact can potentially detach the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone from the nasal septum wall, allowing the septum to deviate from one side to the other. In cases where the nose is actually broken, the septum may not heal uniformly, something which often goes unnoticed by physicians. The end result is an excess of bone or cartilage one on side of the septum or other, obstructing the flow of air.
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Disorders
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Deviated septums can also arise from congenital or genetic disorders. When a child is born, his skull deforms and flexes slightly to allow passage through the birth canal. In some cases, this period of compression places excess pressure on the child's nose. This pushes the septum out of place before the bones of the skull have the chance to harden and mature. A small percentage of people who suffer from Marfan's Syndrome also develop deviated septums. Marfan's Syndrome is a hereditary degenerative disorder which, among other things, effects the body's connective tissue. As the cartilage within the nose degrades over time, it shifts.
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