Nasal Valve Collapse or Deviated Septum: What Is Blocking Your Breathing?

Blocked nasal passages and breathing difficulties can be frustrating, particularly if they start impacting your day-to-day work, productivity, sleep, and comfort. When something as simple as breathing becomes a chore, it can be extremely annoying. What’s more is that this feeling can worsen during sleep or during strenuous physical activities.

There are several factors that can block breathing, and two of these factors include nasal valve collapse and a deviated septum.

Nasal valve collapse and a deviated septum are two different structural issues, but may cause similar and sometimes overlapping symptoms, which is why it’s important to seek professional evaluation if you are experiencing symptoms that may be linked to either or both of them.

Here at Trinity ENT, we help patients in Gilbert, AZ, understand the differences between nasal valve collapse and a deviated septum, how they may cause nasal blockages and breathing difficulties, and when to consider further evaluation.

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What Is Nasal Valve Collapse?

The nasal valve is the narrowest part of the nasal airway and helps regulate airflow through the nose. It has two primary regions:

• External nasal valve, which is located near the opening of the nostril and is formed by the nostril rim, the surrounding cartilage, nasal floor, and the nearby soft tissues
• Internal nasal valve, which is located farther inside the nose and is formed by the nasal septum, upper lateral cartilage, and the surrounding tissues, which forms a narrow passage

Nasal valve collapse occurs when the nasal valve region becomes excessively narrow or when its supporting structures weaken or move inward during breathing. This restricts airflow.

Airflow may become restricted when an individual is at rest, or only during deeper or faster breathing. Some individuals with nasal valve collapse may experience one or both patterns, depending on the severity of their condition.

Because the nasal valve is already narrow, even a relatively small structural change can significantly affect nasal airflow.

The common symptoms of nasal valve collapse may vary, but common signs to be on the lookout for include:

• Breathing difficulties through the nose
• A blocked sensation at the front of the nose
• Blocked breathing that worsens during deep inhalation or exercise
• A nostril or sidewall that pulls inward during inhalation
• Significant improvement in breathing when the cheek is gently pulled outward
• Improvement in breathing when using nasal strips or internal nasal dilators

The symptoms listed above may be related to nasal valve collapse but are not unique to it. Other conditions, such as allergies, a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, and nasal polyps may cause similar symptoms as well.

What Is a Deviated Septum?

The nasal septum is a wall made primarily of cartilage and bone that separates the nasal cavity into left and right passages. 

A deviated septum is characterized by an anatomical variation of this wall, wherein it is slightly off-center and misaligned. This may be present at birth or result from an injury or trauma to the nose.

Many people have a nasal septum that’s a little off-center, but depending on the severity of the deviation, it may not cause noticeable symptoms, which is why many of them don’t even realize they have it.

In some other cases, a deviated septum may be present, but you don’t notice symptoms until later on in life, usually when the nose undergoes natural changes with aging.

Symptoms of a deviated septum may vary per patient, but common signs to look for include:

• Chronic nasal congestion
• Persistent breathing difficulties through the nose
• A nose that looks off-center or nostrils that look uneven
• A sensation that one nasal passage or nostril is consistently more blocked than the other
• Breathing difficulties that worsen during sleep or exercise
• Nasal dryness or nosebleeds in some cases

Deviated septum symptoms may worsen or become more noticeable when there is additional swelling inside the nose, due to other underlying conditions such as allergies or sinus infections.

Nasal Valve Collapse or Deviated Septum: Telling the Difference

It’s worth noting that relying on symptoms alone does not always reveal for sure which structural issue may be causing persistent blockage in the nasal passages.

Generally, nasal valve collapse involves nasal obstruction that may be more pronounced during certain times, such as during deep inhalation. On the other hand, a deviated septum may cause a fixed narrowing inside the nasal cavity.

If nasal strips or gently pulling the cheek outward improves your breathing, this may suggest that the nasal valve region contributes to the obstruction. However, this response does not distinguish reliably between static narrowing and dynamic collapse or establish a diagnosis on its own. 

A physical examination can help your care provider determine what might be contributing to persistent nasal blockage and breathing difficulties.

Can Nasal Valve Collapse and a Deviated Septum Occur at the Same Time?

Yes, you can have both nasal valve collapse and a deviated septum, which may both cause nasal obstruction.

Other than both nasal valve collapse and a deviated septum, several factors and conditions may also contribute to nasal obstruction, such as:

• Allergies
• Sinusitis
• Nasal polyps
• Enlarged turbinates
• Chronic sinus or nasal inflammation
• Nasal trauma or injury

Nasal obstruction can result from a variety of factors and underlying conditions. A consultation with a healthcare provider is crucial to determine the potential underlying cause, rather than assuming that one or some other condition is responsible.

When Is It Time to See an ENT Specialist for Nasal Obstruction?

Consider scheduling an appointment with an ENT specialist for:

• Chronic sinus symptoms that do not improve or respond to appropriate home remedies and conservative treatments
• Persistent nasal obstruction that significantly impacts daily comfort, breathing, sleep, work, and exercise
• Frequent mouth breathing
• Recurring sinus infections
• Poor sleep quality or difficulty sleeping due to breathing problems

Conclusion: Finding Out What’s Causing Your Blocked Breathing With Trinity ENT

Trinity ENT provides ear, nose, and throat care services for patients in Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, and nearby Arizona communities.

A nasal examination can help assess for and identify potential contributing factors that may be restricting and blocking airflow. Proper evaluation and diagnosis can help determine underlying causes and guide treatment and management planning.

Schedule a consultation with our team to learn more about nasal obstruction.