How much pressure to break a nose

If you think you may have broken your nose, take these steps to reduce pain and swelling before seeing your doctor:. If your injury is severe, you'll need to seek immediate medical attention and won't have time to prepare for your appointment. But, if the injury to your nose is less severe — accompanied only by swelling and moderate pain — you may choose to wait before seeing your doctor. This allows time for the swelling to subside, so you and your doctor can better evaluate your injury.

However, it's best not to wait longer than three to five days before seeing your doctor if your signs and symptoms persist. And during this waiting period, get medical attention if:.

When you make an appointment, you'll probably start by seeing your primary care doctor. However, he or she is likely to refer you to a doctor who specializes in disorders of the ear, nose and throat. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and to know what to expect from your doctor. Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your doctor. For a broken nose, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

British Columbia Specific Information A direct blow, hit or punch to your nose can cause the cartilage or bone in your nose to break. Top of the page. Topic Overview How do I get a broken nose? What are the symptoms? Symptoms of a broken nose include: Nose pain. Swelling of the nose. A crooked or bent appearance. Bruising around the nose or eyes. A runny nose or a nosebleed.

A grating sound or feeling when the nose is touched or rubbed. Blocked nasal passages. Possible complications of a broken nose include: Change in the appearance of the nose or the tip of the nose. A large amount of blood in the nasal septum nasal septal hematoma. A hole in the nasal septum septal perforation or causing the bridge of the nose to collapse saddle nose deformity. Is your nose bleeding now?

If it is, try to stop the bleeding. Would you describe the nosebleed as severe, moderate, or mild? Can you stop the bleeding? Have you kept the nose pinched shut for at least 20 minutes? Has tried to stop nosebleed with direct pressure for at least 20 minutes. Do you feel lightheaded or dizzy, like you are going to faint? It's normal for some people to feel a little lightheaded when they first stand up. But anything more than that may be serious. Do you take a medicine that affects the blood's ability to clot?

This may include blood thinners and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can cause bleeding and can make it harder to control bleeding. Have you had more than 1 nosebleed in the past 24 hours? Have you had more than 4 nosebleeds in the past 24 hours? Do you think the nose may be infected? Do you think you may have a fever? Do you have diabetes, a weakened immune system , or any surgical hardware in the area? Do you think you may need a tetanus shot?

Do you have any other concerns about your nose? These include: Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker. Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.

Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners anticoagulants , medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse. Recent health events , such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious. Your health habits and lifestyle , such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment You have answered all the questions. Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms. Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect. You may need care sooner. Pain in adults and older children Severe pain 8 to 10 : The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain. Moderate pain 5 to 7 : The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days.

Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there. Mild pain 1 to 4 : You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Pain in children under 3 years It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in. Severe pain 8 to 10 : The pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or grimace. Moderate pain 5 to 7 : The baby is very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds when you try to comfort him or her.

Mild pain 1 to 4 : The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds when you try to comfort him or her. To stop a nosebleed : Sit up straight, and tip your head slightly forward. Do not tilt your head back.

This may cause blood to run down your throat and make you vomit. Pinch the soft part of your nose shut with your thumb and index finger for 10 full minutes. After 10 minutes, check to see if your nose is still bleeding.

If it is, pinch it shut for 10 more minutes. Most nosebleeds will stop after 10 to 20 minutes of pressure. Symptoms of infection in the nose may include: Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness around the nose.

Pus or smelly drainage from the nose. Long-term alcohol and drug problems. Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer. Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.

Medicines taken after organ transplant. Not having a spleen. A nosebleed is severe if: You have moderate to large amounts of blood even after you have pinched the nose shut for 10 minutes. Your nose is still bleeding even after 20 full minutes of direct pressure. A nosebleed is moderate if: You have some bleeding, but direct pressure stops it within 20 minutes. The nose bleeds small amounts of blood more than 3 times in 24 hours.

A nosebleed is mild if: You have a little bleeding, but direct pressure stops it within 10 minutes. The nose bleeds no more than 3 times in 24 hours, and each time the bleeding is mild. For a dirty wound that has things like dirt, saliva, or feces in it, you may need a shot if: You haven't had a tetanus shot in the past 5 years. You don't know when your last shot was.

For a clean wound , you may need a shot if: You have not had a tetanus shot in the past 10 years. Symptoms of a skull fracture may include: Clear or bloody fluid draining from the ears or nose. Bruising under the eyes or behind the ears. Drooping of the face. A dent anywhere on the head. Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example: You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk mild difficulty breathing , or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all severe difficulty breathing.

Severe trouble breathing means: You cannot talk at all. You have to work very hard to breathe. You feel like you can't get enough air. You do not feel alert or cannot think clearly. Moderate trouble breathing means: It's hard to talk in full sentences.

It's hard to breathe with activity. Mild trouble breathing means: You feel a little out of breath but can still talk. It's becoming hard to breathe with activity.

Severe trouble breathing means: The child cannot eat or talk because he or she is breathing so hard. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Facial Trauma Surgery. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap 1. Mayersak RJ. Facial trauma. Facial injuries. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap 3. Editorial team.