What are nosebleeds?
A nosebleed is active blood loss from the tissue that lines your nose. It can affect both nostrils, but most often occurs in only one nostril.
Why is the nose prone to bleeding?
The nose has many blood vessels in it to help warm and humidify the air you breathe. These vessels lie close to the surface, making them easy to injure.
Are nosebleeds serious?
A few nosebleeds stem from large vessels in the back of the nose. These nosebleeds can be dangerous. They may occur after an injury. This type of nosebleed is more common in the elderly and is often due to high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, daily aspirin use, or bleeding disorders. Usually, the older the patient, the more serious the nosebleed.
You’ll need to get medical attention if a nosebleed goes on for more than 20 minutes. You should also see a doctor if it occurs after an injury (such as a fall or a punch in the face), especially if you think you may have a broken nose. A nosebleed after a fall or car accident could be a sign of internal bleeding.
Frequent nosebleeds may mean you have a more serious problem. For example, nosebleeds and bruising can be early signs of leukemia. Nosebleeds can also be a sign of a blood clotting or blood vessel disorder, or a nasal tumor (both cancerous and non-cancerous).
Symptoms of nosebleeds
Most often, you will have no other symptoms other than the nosebleed itself.
What causes nosebleeds?
The most common causes of nosebleeds are dryness (often caused by indoor heat in the winter) and nose picking. These 2 things work together — nose picking occurs more often when mucus in the nose is dry and crusty.
Other, less common, causes include injuries, colds, allergies, or cocaine use. Children may stick small objects up their noses. Older people may have atherosclerosis (which is the hardening of the arteries), infections, high blood pressure, and blood clotting disorders. Nosebleeds may occur if you are taking drugs that interfere with blood clotting, such as aspirin. A rare cause of frequent nosebleeds is a disorder called hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Sometimes, the cause of nosebleeds can’t be determined.
How are nosebleeds diagnosed?
There is usually no need to formally diagnose a nosebleed. If your nose is bleeding, it is fairly self-evident.
Can nosebleeds be prevented or avoided?
Tips for preventing nosebleeds:
- Keep children’s fingernails short to discourage nose picking.
- Counteract the drying effects of indoor heated air by using a humidifier at night in your bedroom.
- Quit smoking. Smoking dries out your nose and also irritates it.
- Open your mouth when you sneeze.
How to stop a nosebleed
People commonly pinch the bridge of their nose and lean back to stop a nosebleed, but according to Jason M. Abramowitz, MD, of ENT and Allergy Associates, this is counterintuitive. The right way to stop nosebleeds is to pinch your nostrils tight, Dr. Abramowitz says. “That’s going to put pressure on the front of the septum where the bleed is likely coming from,” he says. Tilt your head forward, so the blood doesn’t drip back and into your windpipe. An icepack on the bridge of your nose can help as well as a nasal decongestant spray help constrict blood vessels and stop bleeding, too, according to Dr. Abramowitz. Tipping your head back is one of the 12 common first aid mistakes everyone makes.
Maseih Moghaddassi, MD, an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist, and the Chief of the Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at NYU Winthrop Hospital offers another suggestion. “The best way is to put a cotton ball inside the nose and press the areas of the nose that flair in and out when you breathe,” Dr. Moghaddassi says. Traditionally, however, most people do this incorrectly by pressing on the nasal bone. To get the pressure right, you have to press on the soft part of the nose, Dr. Moghaddassi says. Still, Dr. Abramowitz adds that putting tissue or cotton into your nose could do more harm than good if the tissue or cotton breaks apart.
When to call the doctor
If you’ve tried how to stop a nosebleed two or three times without luck, it’s time to call your doctor, Dr. Moghaddassi says. This is especially true if the blood is bright red and flowing quickly, Dr. Abramowitz adds. “I recommend all patients who experience their first nosebleed to be evaluated by an ear nose and throat physician,” he says. “It’s important to understand the origin of the bleed and to rule out any concerning causes.” People should also see a doctor if they experience reoccurring nosebleeds, too, as they might be warning signs of other serious conditions, Dr. Moghaddassi says. Runny noses, on the other hand, are a different story. If you can’t stop reaching for tissues, check out these 12 surprising reasons you have the sniffles.
How to prevent nosebleeds
You don’t have to worry about how to stop a nosebleed if you avoid them in the first place. The ideal way to prevent nosebleeds is by keeping your nose moist. Blood vessels that come too close to the surface and crack causes the bleeding which usually happens when the nose is dry, Dr. Abramowitz says. Nasal saline or salt water spray are great over-the-counter options.
You can also apply a pea size amount of Vaseline or Aquaphor to your nostrils before bed, locking in moisture. Humidifiers are another option, too. Still, while dryness is the most common reason for nosebleeds, allergies, inflammation, infection, and high blood pressure among other causes are possible. If your nosebleed is because of trauma, you’ll want to know these 60 secrets the emergency room staff won’t tell you.
source: rd | familydoctor