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Can a dorsal hump cause breathing problems? It might sound silly, but a hump on your nose can actually be a problem. A dorsum or bridge is the protective bone that sits at the very top of our noses, and while it does not cause any significant breathing difficulties, it can cause some minor ones. While there are other causes for these kind of issues, such as allergies to dust or pollen, an allergic reaction to certain materials in contact lenses or eye drops, sinusitis and even asthma; all of which should be ruled out first before you jump to conclusions about a nasal dorsum creating breathing problems.
What is it?
A dorsal hump is a bony bump on the top ridge of your nose. This bone, known as the nasal dorsum or bridge, can be expected and healthy for some people while being too large or protruding in others. There are a number of conditions that may cause one to have a big bump on their nose, including:
- Rhinophyma, What is rhinophyma? It’s not really something I want to talk about here because it’s a little bit gross. It is a skin condition that causes the nose to swell up and change shape over time.
Some types of contact lenses or eye drops may create an allergic reaction that causes some nasal deformities, such as a hump on the nose. Sinusitis and even asthma are also considered possibilities if you suffer from respiratory problems during certain seasons, so it is best to visit your doctor first for a checkup.
- An injury or fracture to the nasal bones can cause swelling and bumps. This is usually temporary but could be permanent in some cases.
- Allergies to dust and pollen can cause nasal deformities such as a hump.
- Sinusitis and even asthma may also be the problem if it is causing the breathing difficulties that you think are due to a nose hump
Genetics, as some people are born with a hump.
As you age, your nose becomes more curved and crooked. Nasal fractures, If the top of your nose is broken, it can cause a nose hump in some cases due to how bones naturally shift when they heal. Surgical procedures, Nose jobs, or rhinoplasty can leave you with a nose hump as the bones shift and settle into place over time.
What are the ways to treat dorsal humps?
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for a sizable nasal dorsum or hump other than surgery. There are, however, some things that you can do to help reduce any discomfort caused by your big nose-bump, including:
- Use saline sprays and neti pots
- Switch to a particular type of pillow that lets you sleep in any position and doesn’t force your nose into an awkward shape
- Use steam to relax the nasal passages and help with breathing.
- Wash your face with gentle, fragrance-free soap twice daily
What are nasal sprays? Nasal sprays or decongestants help by constricting blood vessels in the lining of your nose, which reduces swelling and congestion. They can be used as often as needed for relief. Is this condition temporary? In most cases, it is likely that any injuries or problems will be resolved on their own within.
Nose Hump Problems:
Most people would not be too concerned with a nasal dorsum as it will only cause minor breathing difficulties such as mouth breathers and snoring, but if you find yourself constantly suffering from asthma or suffer allergies during certain seasons, then it is best to get a checkup from your doctor.
What are the problems caused by nose humps? Not all nose humps will cause any issues with breathing. However, there are some that will. If the hump is large and gets in the way of breathing, then it can cause some problems such as:
- Trouble sleeping because you cannot breathe well through your nose at night -Feeling out of breath or struggling to catch a good whiff when exercising
- Stuffy feeling during everyday activities like walking around town or going about your daily business.
- Many people suffer from respiratory problems in the winter months, which can be caused by allergies to dust or pollen.
- A nose hump may cause mouth breathing and snoring if it is big enough.
Nose Hump Removal:
If you are still concerned with your nasal dorsum after speaking with your doctor about any possible causes for your respiratory problems, then there are surgical procedures that can be done to remove it.
- There are surgical procedures that can be done to remove a nasal dorsum if necessary after speaking with your doctor about any possible causes for your respiratory problems.
- Surgical procedures can help fix a dorsal hump if necessary, such as rhinoplasty:
Rhinoplasty is a common surgery that reshapes the nose to correct any deformities or irregularities. If your hump is big enough and causing breathing problems, then you may benefit from having it removed during rhinoplasty for better results.
Benefits of removing a hump:
- Basically improve appearance when the hump is fixed
- Confidence booster
- better breathing and sleeping
Benefits of not removing a hump:
- There are no significant benefits to leaving the hump on your nose, even though it may cause only minor breathing difficulties such as mouth breathers and snoring.
- Once a nasal hump has been surgically removed, it will never grow back.
- Avoiding the risk of complications during surgery.
What to do if I have chronic breathing issues due to my nose hump?
- If you constantly suffer from allergies or asthma, then it’s best to see your doctor first for a checkup.
- If you still have concerns after speaking with your doctor, then a surgery to remove the hump may be necessary.
- Even though breathing problems from nasal deformities such as nose humps are not life-threatening, it is always important to speak with your doctors if it gets worse.
In conclusion, a dorsal hump does not cause breathing problems for individuals. In fact, most of the time people with a dorsal hump have no respiratory issues at all. This is because their head size and shape was formed naturally rather than from surgery which has been found to lead to complications in many cases. It should be noted that there are some cases where breathing problems are caused by a dorsal hump, but it is still not common at all.
