From sudden nosebleed after injury to persisting cough – Dr Jeff answers your health questions
DR JEFF FOSTER is The Sun on Sunday’s new resident and is here to help YOU.
dr jeff, The 43-year-old divides his time between working as a GP in Leamington Spa, Warks, and running his H3 Health clinic, which is the first of its kind in the UK to deal with hormonal issues in both men and women.
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See h3health.co.uk and email drjeff@the-sun.co.uk.
Q: I bumped my heads while playing soccer four weeks ago.
His head hit my nose, which bled immediately but didn’t look broken.
My nose holds bleed suddenly. When I blow in it bleeds and feels clogged
Will this heal on its own or do I need to see my doctor?
Liam Smith, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
A: Nose injuries are very painful due to the location of the nose and its structure.
It can be difficult initially to determine if a nose is broken because the cartilage cannot be x-rayed. Therefore, nasal fractures must be diagnosed clinically.
The nose is very vascular and therefore often bleeds when struck. However, I do recommend going to the emergency room if you experience nasal trauma and it’s causing profuse bleeding that won’t stop, causing an open or penetrating injury, has significant deformity, or you are unable to breathe properly.
This last point is important because, in rare cases, trauma to the nose can cause a nasal septal hematoma.
This is a swelling that occurs in one nostril due to a disruption in the blood vessel that lines the nasal septum, affecting blood flow to the cartilage or tip of the nose, leading to long-term complications.
Most fractures heal after six weeks. If you still have some blood and it feels congested, ask your doctor to check it.
Q: I am 43 years old and have had a cough for four weeks. It started with a cold but hasn’t gone away.
At night I cough in bed and in the morning I cough up phlegm and blow my nose.
I eat well, am active and take vitamins. Any suggestions what else I can do?
Jayne Varrier, Oxford
A: If you have a chest cough at age 43 but are otherwise fine, have no significant medical history or underlying lung disease and do not smoke, then four weeks to clear a viral infection is not unreasonable.
It’s accepted that we need to get a cough checked if it lasts more than two weeks, but it’s more about the other symptoms you’re having that might be preventing your cough from getting better.
In your case, it is the mucus production in your nose that is causing your cough.
Every night when you lie down, the mucus runs down your throat and into the upper respiratory tract. You then have to cough it up again in the first few hours of the day.
Focus on stopping mucus production in your nose by resting, eating well, avoiding stress, and giving your body a chance to heal and recover.
Visit a pharmacist to find out what medications may help.
If your cough persists despite your cold going away, see your doctor.