Snoring is a nightly disruption that affects both sleep quality and partners. This loud breathing noise can indicate a structural issue within the nose that restricts airflow. A deviated septum is a frequent contributor to nasal airway obstruction and subsequent snoring. Understanding the anatomy and mechanics of breathing clarifies the link between this common physical variation and the nightly vibration that causes the noise.
Understanding Nasal Anatomy and Septal Deviation
The nasal septum is the thin internal wall composed of bone and cartilage that divides the nasal cavity into two distinct passages. This structure extends from the nostrils backward toward the throat, providing support to the nose and ensuring air flows evenly through both sides. A healthy septum sits relatively straight along the midline, effectively regulating the air that is filtered, warmed, and humidified before it reaches the lungs.
A deviated septum occurs when this dividing wall is displaced, bowed, or crooked, making one nasal passage significantly narrower than the other. Most people have some degree of misalignment, but it is only problematic when it causes noticeable symptoms like restricted breathing. This displacement can develop during fetal growth, resulting in a condition present at birth, or it can be caused by trauma, such as a sports injury or a blow to the face.
How Deviated Septum Contributes to Snoring
The physical narrowing of the nasal passage by the deviated septum directly restricts the volume of air passing through the nose during sleep. This structural obstruction increases resistance to inhalation, forcing the body to breathe harder to pull air into the lungs. When air is forced through this smaller opening at a higher velocity, the airflow becomes turbulent rather than smooth.
This turbulent air current travels down the throat, causing surrounding soft tissues—such as the soft palate, uvula, and pharyngeal walls—to vibrate rapidly. The resulting sound is the characteristic rattling or rumbling of snoring. Because the deviation is a constant structural issue, the snoring it causes is often chronic and present regardless of a person’s weight or sleeping position. Restricted nasal airflow can also lead to habitual mouth breathing, which further exacerbates the vibration of throat tissues and amplifies the snoring sound.
Other Common Causes of Snoring and Sleep Apnea Risk
Snoring is often the result of multiple contributing factors, not just a physical defect in the nose. Common causes unrelated to the septum include the relaxation of throat muscles due to alcohol consumption or the use of sedatives before bed. Sleeping on the back can also cause the tongue and soft palate to fall backward, partially collapsing the airway and increasing snoring risk.
Other anatomical factors, such as enlarged tonsils or adenoids, a thick soft palate, or excess fatty tissue in the neck due to obesity, can narrow the upper airway and lead to vibration. Loud, chronic snoring accompanied by gasping, choking, or pauses in breathing may indicate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA involves repeated episodes of complete or partial airway collapse during sleep, which reduces blood oxygen levels and disrupts rest. Untreated OSA is associated with increased health risks, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and excessive daytime fatigue, strongly encouraging consultation with a medical professional.
Options for Diagnosis and Treatment
A medical professional, often an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist, diagnoses a deviated septum by taking a medical history and performing a physical examination. This examination may involve using a lighted instrument, such as a nasal speculum or endoscope, to visually inspect the internal structure of the nasal passages. If OSA is suspected, a sleep study (polysomnography) may be ordered to assess the severity of breathing disruptions during the night.
Initial treatment for congestion and mild snoring often begins with conservative measures. These include external nasal strips to physically widen the nasal passages or medical management with decongestants, antihistamines, or nasal steroid sprays to reduce tissue swelling. These non-surgical options only manage symptoms and cannot correct the underlying structural problem. The definitive procedure for a severely deviated septum is septoplasty, a surgery that reshapes or repositions the bone and cartilage to establish a straight nasal passage and permanently improve airflow.