What does Ranbir Kapoor have a deviated septum? How does this condition affect breathing?

Ranbir Kapoor recently said that he talks and eats fast because of a disease he has, known as Deviated Septum. While completely harmless, a deviated septum is a nasal problem caused by misalignment of your nasal cavity and, in some people, can cause severe shortness of breath and frequent sinus infections. The 42-year-old said that over the years he has learned to live with the nasal deviation. Read on to know more.

People who have a severely deviated septum may notice changes in the shape of their nose.

Ranbir Kapoor recently revealed about a deviation in his nasal septum – a nasal condition that causes him to talk and eat very fast. The 42-year-old actor said that over the years he has learned to live with his condition, which doctors say may develop after a nose injury.

A deviated septum occurs when the bone and cartilage dividing your nasal cavity move out of place between both nostrils. Misalignment can partially block one or both nasal passages, causing various symptoms and complications.

How does a deviated septum affect your health?

Doctors say that more than 80 percent of people have nasal septum deviation, which most people do not even realize because they do not have symptoms. But for some people, a deviated septum can cause breathing problems and even severe headaches.

According to experts, even if the minor condition does not cause any complications, a severely deviated septum develops many complications like sinus, persistent nasal congestion and extremely dry mouth, which can lead to infection.

Signs and symptoms of deviated septum

People who have a severely deviated septum may notice changes in the shape of their nose along with some other symptoms, such as:

Difficulty breathing through one or both nostrils
severe headache
pain on face
nasal congestion
noisy breathing
frequent nose bleeding
chronic sinusitis
Snoring
sleep apnea
Snoring

What causes deviated septum?

An injury to your nose can cause a deviation of the septum. Some other reasons include:

playing contact sports
car accidents
Falls
fight and assault

While some people are born with nasal septum deviation due to difficult delivery, this condition can also be the result of normal development. As your nose grows, your septum also grows and can sometimes bend to one side.

How can you self-diagnose a deviated septum?

To find out if your septum is deviated, you can check for:

Tilt your head back and look in the mirror. If you notice that your nostrils appear uneven or different in shape, you may have a deviated septum.
Use your finger and keep one of your nostrils closed. Then breathe and focus on the flow of air. If you are having difficulty breathing, you may have this condition.

Doctors say the test can be a helpful self-examination tool, but for a proper diagnosis, you should visit your doctor.

How can you treat this condition?

Experts say that the treatment of deviated septum depends on the severity of the condition. Since most people do not have symptoms, they do not need any treatment. While mild symptoms can be treated with medications, if you have severe problems breathing, you may need surgery.

Some over-the-counter medications may help, including:

nasal decongestant
nasal steroid spray
antihistamines

Additionally, a common surgery to treat this condition, known as septoplasty, can be performed to treat breathing troubles and frequent sinus issues. In this, the surgeon will reshape your septum, which involves adding or removing bone and cartilage. Typically, septoplasty is an outpatient procedure, and takes approximately 30-90 minutes to complete.

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