Fractured nose?

[brainfart13]

Hey Medhelp.

End of my sophomore year in high school I had a pretty bad accident where I fell on my face. Face was bloodied up and I hit my nose pretty bad, it was pained for the rest of the day and my mom told me it looked somewhat swollen but we weren't sure. I iced the nose anyway and there was no pain the next day. It's been almost three years since the incident and only now am I considering that I may have broken my nose. In terms of physical appearance, there is a small bone swelling on the bridge of my nose. Ever since then I have noticed I have more mucus in my chest and at night it is difficult to breathe through my nose. Sometimes I wake up with a dry mouth which started last year. I would be lying to say that I don't care what my nose looks like because it does bother me a little. I tried to compare to baby pictures but it's hard to tell, it seems like the bone swelling bump is abnormal and I've never even seen a nose shape with it. Any suggestions? I don't want to go to a doctor to find out I'm just paranoid about how I look. It also concerns me that I could, or have already, developed deviated septum.

Thanks so much

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Symptoms of mouth breathing and dry mouth could be due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea. When a person sleeps the airways are usually patent allowing normal passage for air entry. The upper airway that is at the region of the tongue and the soft palate is the most compliant (soft) part. So, this is liable to collapse and cause airway obstruction.

As the air way collapses the lungs do not have air entry leading to deoxygenation (decreased oxygen) of blood and the person wakes up. This period of non entry of air is called ‘Apnea’ and the waking up is called an ‘Arousal’. This keeps alternating and the person may not actually wake up all the time, but these repeated arousals can disturb the sleep architecture and cause fatigue, headaches, dry mouth and daytime sleepiness. These people are also more prone for Hypertension. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is more common in people who snore.

Discuss these options with your doctor when you happen to meet him next time.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[brainfart13]

I plan on going to an ear, nose, and throat doctor soon. Just curious before I go if breaks can be clean, most I see the nose is skewed and obviously broken, mine is a clean bump. And also, can dry mouth in the morning (mouth-breathing) be caused by anything else besides restricted breathing?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

The nasal injury could have caused a deviated nasal septum and this could further cause difficulty breathing through the nose. Also, the dry mouth indicates breathing through the mouth. The condition needs evaluation and therapy.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.