Could Deviated Septum Cause Same Symptoms As Panic Attack?

Question

My son has been diagnosed by an ENT doctor with a deviated septum.  Before this he experienced trouble waking up all through the night, was put on Ambien, began experiencing panic attacks almost daily.  Now he experiences bad headaches, dizziness, light headedness, and sometimes problems with his vision.Could all these symptoms be due to a deviated septum or just panic attack symptoms?  He began experiencing these sleeping problems about a year ago (age 20) and then the panic attacks about 3 weeks into the Ambien.  Thanks in advance for your response.

Oakley Smith, MD, FRCSC · Answer

The short answer is no. A deviated septum causes difficulty nasal breathing and sometimes nose bleeds and nasal crusting. occassionally it can affect sleep too.

Houtan Chaboki, MD · Answer

Cinwin,
Deviated septum is a common condition. Estimates of 80% of the general population have a deviated septum. Typical symptoms of a deviated septum include nasal congestion, difficult nasal breathing, snoring, post nasal drip. Panic attacks, dizziness, light headedness, and visual changes are not associated with this condition.
Deviated septum may contribute to sleep disturbance and snoring. I suggest seeing a sleep specialist, in addition to other specialists, to help diagnose his problems. Best of luck.

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