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ugly. Even abnormalities invisible to the naked eye increase the likelihood of a heart attack and stroke. What are we talking about? Of course, about the curve of the nasal septum.
Some people do not experience any symptoms due to the curve of the nasal septum for years. However, as you enter your 40s, your nose begins to age and many people present with new symptoms, including snoring, apnea and recurrent sinusitis. This is due to the progressive sagging of collagen fibers and the loss of elasticity inside the nose, and consequently the collapse of the nasal mucosa. Similar changes are not noticeable in people with a simple septum.
What is the nasal septum?
This 2-3 millimeter cartilage and bone tissue divides the nose in half. Curvature is usually caused by trauma in childhood. Healing lesions thicken over time, which causes the width to increase in some places, up to 8 millimeters.
A simple test that each of us can carry out is to put a mirror under our nose, through which we then blow out the air. Unless the traces of air from both holes are identical, we should consult an otolaryngologist to possibly confirm our assumptions.
Dangerous apnea
The result of repeated apnea during the night is a decrease in the level of oxygen in the blood and an increase in dioxide. A healthy person should achieve approximately 96% on the arterial oxygen saturation test. A person suffering from apnea at night has only 30% blood saturation, which is a significant burden on the work of the heart, which can end with a stroke, heart attack, arrhythmia or hypertension.
Straightening of the nasal septum – indications and benefits
Disturbed nasal breathing directs us to surgical straightening of the nasal septum, as well as recurrent nosebleeds, inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, or disfiguring curvature. Due to the fact that the curvature, apart from the cartilage itself, also affects the posterior part of the septum, which is formed by bone tissue, the straightening procedure is not very easy to perform. Depending on the individual case, general or local anesthesia is used. Most likely, we will be in the operating room for an hour and a half, after which we will spend the next XNUMX hours in the hospital, and for the next few days we will wear a stiffening bandage. Due to the resulting swelling, we will only be able to breathe through our mouths for the first two nights. Temporary discomfort will be quickly compensated by improved sleep quality, better breathing quality, less frequent sinus infections and, of course, a nicer appearance.