Nasal Valve Collapse or Deviated Septum: What Is Causing Your Nasal Obstruction?
Persistent nasal obstruction can be frustrating, especially if they start impacting your day-to-day routine, work, productivity, concentration, sleep, and comfort. When you’re dealing with persistent nasal obstruction, something as simple as breathing through the nose can become a chore. This feeling can worsen during sleep or exercise, which can add even more frustration.
Several factors may contribute to persistent nasal obstruction, and two structural problems that may contribute include nasal valve collapse and a deviated septum.
These two structural problems may cause similar and overlapping symptoms, or occur at the same time, but they are not the same and are not interchangeable.
Here at SoCal Breathe Free, we help patients in Burbank, CA, understand the difference between these structural issues, how they can cause persistent nasal obstruction, and how to recognize signs that may warrant a consultation and further evaluation.
What Is Nasal Valve Collapse?
The nasal valve is the narrowest part of the nasal airway and plays an important role in regulating airflow through the nose. It has two primary regions:
- External nasal valve: Located near the nostril opening and formed by the nostril rim, surrounding cartilage, nasal floor, and nearby soft tissue
- Internal nasal valve: Located farther inside the nose and formed by the nasal septum, upper lateral cartilage, and surrounding tissues, forming a narrow passage
Nasal valve collapse occurs when this region of the nose becomes excessively narrow, or when its supporting structures weaken or move inward during breathing, which restricts airflow.
Airway restriction may be present while an individual is at rest, or the nasal sidewall may collapse inward only during deeper or faster breathing. Some individuals may experience either one pattern or both patterns.
The nasal valve is already naturally narrow, so even a relatively small structural change can significantly affect nasal airflow.
What are the symptoms of nasal valve collapse?
Common symptoms may include:
- Difficulty breathing through the nose
- Nasal obstruction that worsens during deep inhalation or exercise
- A blocked sensation at the front of the nose
- A nostril or nasal sidewall that pulls inward during inhalation
- Improvement when the cheek is gently pulled outward
- Improvement when using nasal strips or internal nasal dilators
The symptoms listed above are not unique to nasal valve collapse. Other conditions, such as a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, nasal polyps, and allergies, may cause similar symptoms.
What Is a Deviated Septum?
The nasal septum is the internal wall of bone and cartilage that separates the nose into right and left nostrils.
A deviated septum is an anatomical variation in which the nasal septum is off-center or misaligned. This anomaly may be present at birth or result from an injury or trauma to the nose.
Most people have a nasal septum that’s a little off-center, but not all cases will cause noticeable symptoms, which is why many people don’t even realize they have it. In other cases, a deviated septum is present, but they don’t notice symptoms until later on, when the nose undergoes natural changes due to aging.
What are the symptoms of a deviated septum?
Symptoms of a deviated septum vary per patient, but common signs to look out for include:
- Persistent breathing difficulties through one or both nostrils
- Chronic nasal congestion
- A sensation that one nasal passage or nostril is consistently more blocked than the other
- A nose that looks off-center or nostrils that look uneven
- Breathing difficulties that worsen during sleep or exercise
- Nosebleeds or nasal dryness in some cases
Symptoms can worsen or become more noticeable when allergies, sinus infections, or other underlying conditions cause additional swelling inside the nose.
Nasal Valve Collapse or Deviated Septum: How to Tell the Difference
Relying on symptoms alone does not always reveal which structural issue is causing persistent nasal obstruction.
Nasal valve collapse involves obstruction that may sometimes be more pronounced during deep inhalation, while a deviated septum causes a relatively fixed narrowing inside the nasal cavity.
Moreover, if gently pulling the cheek outward or using a nasal strip significantly improves airflow and breathing, nasal valve collapse may be more likely. However, this response alone does not establish a diagnosis.
A physical examination and consultation with your healthcare provider are warranted to determine what might be contributing to persistent nasal obstruction.
Can You Have Both Nasal Valve Collapse and a Deviated Septum?
Yes, you can experience nasal obstruction caused by multiple structural problems, such as both nasal valve collapse and a deviated septum.
More than these two, several factors may also contribute to your symptoms. These may include:
- Allergies
- Nasal polyps
- Enlarged turbinates
- Sinusitis
- Chronic nasal or sinus inflammation
- Nasal trauma or injury
Nasal obstruction can occur from a variety of contributing factors or underlying conditions, which is why it should be evaluated and examined by a healthcare professional rather than assuming one or another condition is responsible.
When Is It Time to See an ENT for Nasal Obstruction?
Consider scheduling an appointment with an ENT specialist if you are experiencing:
- Persistent nasal obstruction that significantly impacts breathing, sleep, exercise, and daily comfort
- Frequent mouth breathing
- Sinus symptoms that do not improve or respond to appropriate home remedies or conservative treatment
- Frequent or recurring sinus infections
- Poor sleep quality or difficulty sleeping due to breathing difficulties
An ENT specialist can help assess your symptoms and nasal anatomy, and determine whether nasal obstruction is associated with nasal valve collapse, a deviated septum, or other factors.
Conclusion: Finding Out What’s Causing Your Nasal Obstruction With SoCal Breathe Free
Persistent nasal obstruction can be frustrating, especially when it starts affecting your daily routine, work, concentration, sleep, and comfort. Proper diagnosis and evaluation can help determine clinically appropriate treatment options and management strategies, based on your unique nasal anatomy and individual health needs.
Schedule a consultation with SoCal Breathe Free to learn more about nasal obstruction.
We provide ear, nose, and throat care services in Burbank and the surrounding Los Angeles area.