Scientists from Newcastle University in Britain said that surgery to correct the curvature of the nasal septum eliminates breathing problems more effectively than nasal drops. Research results published In the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
A deviated septum often indicates that one nasal passage is narrower than the other. This narrowing can make breathing difficult and cause discomfort during sleep and exercise. Many people use vasoconstrictor nasal drops to restore the ability to breathe through both nostrils.
However, there is also a surgical way to correct septum deviation: septoplasty. Scientists tried to find out whether such an operation has advantages over the use of drops.
The study included 378 adults with nasal congestion symptoms associated with deviated septum. Participants were randomly assigned to receive septoplasty or nasal spray treatment.
Six months later, all subjects completed the Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), which assesses difficulty in nasal breathing and the level of discomfort resulting from it. The results showed that volunteers whose nasal septums were surgically repaired had better nasal breathing performance and quality of life than those in the drug treatment group.
The study authors added that otolaryngologists may recommend septoplasty to patients more frequently. Such a surgical intervention is unlikely to cause postoperative complications and eliminates the need to constantly use sprays.
Previously appearedPopular drugs against nasal congestion are ineffective.