The term “thick septum” refers to two distinct concepts: a medical heart condition or a body modification. Both uses share the anatomical root “septum,” meaning a dividing wall. This article clarifies their distinct implications.
Thickening of the Heart Wall
One meaning of “thick septum” is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition where the heart muscle thickens abnormally. This thickening often occurs in the septum, the muscular wall separating the heart’s two lower chambers, the ventricles. The left ventricle, the primary pumping chamber, sends oxygenated blood to the body.
When the septum thickens, it can impede blood flow out of the heart, a situation called obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. HCM is typically genetic, stemming from changes in genes influencing heart muscle contraction proteins. These mutations are often inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning a child has a 50% chance of inheriting the condition if one parent carries the mutation.
Living with a Thickened Heart
Individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may experience symptoms, though some have none. Common indications include shortness of breath during physical activity, chest pain, and palpitations. Dizziness and fainting, especially during or after exercise, can also occur.
Diagnosis often begins with a review of medical and family history, followed by a physical examination where a doctor might detect an abnormal heart murmur. Imaging tests confirm the condition. An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of the heart, provides detailed images of the heart’s structure and reveals muscle thickening. An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the heart’s electrical activity, detecting irregular rhythms or signs of thickened muscle.
Complications of HCM include an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that raises the risk of blood clots and stroke. The thickened muscle can also lead to heart failure, where the heart cannot pump enough blood. In some cases, HCM can cause life-threatening irregular heartbeats, potentially resulting in sudden cardiac arrest, especially in young, active individuals. Management strategies include lifestyle adjustments, medications to ease symptoms and improve heart function, and procedures like septal myectomy or alcohol septal ablation to reduce the thickened tissue.
The Nasal Septum Piercing
Beyond the medical context, “thick septum” also refers to a nasal septum piercing. This involves puncturing the nasal septum, the cartilaginous wall separating the nostrils. The piercing typically goes through the softer tissue behind the cartilage, known as the “sweet spot.”
Once pierced, various types of jewelry can be worn, including circular barbells, captive bead rings, or seamless rings. Jewelry gauge, or thickness, varies, with common sizes ranging from 16-gauge (1.2mm) to 14-gauge (1.6mm); larger gauges are possible through stretching. Aftercare involves cleaning the piercing with a saline solution to prevent infection and promote healing, which can take several months.
Connecting the Meanings
The shared terminology of “thick septum” for both a heart condition and a nose piercing stems from the anatomical definition of “septum.” In anatomy, a septum is any dividing wall or partition within a body structure. This applies to the heart’s interventricular septum and the nasal septum. Therefore, when one refers to a “thick septum,” it can describe either an abnormal enlargement of the heart’s muscular wall, as seen in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or a nasal septum that has been pierced and perhaps stretched to accommodate thicker jewelry. Despite sharing the word “septum,” these two concepts are distinct and refer to entirely different parts of the body and their respective conditions or modifications.