Nose fracture

If you think you may have broken your nose, take these steps to reduce pain and swelling before seeing your doctor:

Act quickly. When the break first occurs, breathe through your mouth and lean forward to reduce the amount of blood that drains into your throat.
Use ice. Apply ice packs or cold compresses immediately after the injury, and then at least four times a day for the first 24 to 48 hours to reduce swelling. Keep the ice or cold compress on for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Wrap the ice in a washcloth to prevent frostbite. Try not to apply too much pressure, which can cause additional pain or damage to your nose.
Relieve pain. Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), as necessary.
Keep your head up. Elevate your head — especially when sleeping — so as not to worsen swelling and throbbing.

You can help prevent a nose fracture with these guidelines:

Wear your seat belt when traveling in a motorized vehicle, and keep children restrained in age-appropriate child safety seats.
Wear the recommended safety equipment, such as a helmet with a face mask, when playing hockey, football or other contact sports.
Wear a helmet during bicycle or motorcycle rides.