Have you had a nosebleed once? How did you feel about it? Did you feel alarmed and scared not knowing what to do? In this article, we will talk about how to manage nosebleeds in the most simple way.
Indeed, nosebleeds may be terrifying, but they aren’t usually a sign of anything serious and can often be treated at home.
The medical term for nosebleed is epistaxis. During a nosebleed, blood flows from one or both nostrils. It can be heavy or light and lasts from a few seconds to 15 minutes or more.
The blood vessels in the nose are highly fragile
The small blood vessels in the septum, or the bony cartilage in the nose that separates the nasal cavity into the two nostrils, is a very delicate structure and can rupture fairly easily, causing a nose bleed.
In children, the nose tends to bleed from only one side (unilateral).
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of a nosebleed include:
- bleeding from one or both nostrils
- urge to swallow frequently
- sensation of flowing liquid at the back of the throat
Causes
Nosebleeds are caused by different factors including:
- trauma (e.g nose picking, blowing the nose very hard, an object that has been pushed up the nostril)
- an infection of the nose lining, sinuses or adenoids
- an allergy that causes hay fever or coughing
- bumps or falls
- occasionally, a bleeding or clotting problem.
- changes in humidity or temperature causing the inside of the nose to become dry and cracked
Furthermore, nosebleeds are remarkably common for most people to experience every now and then. Anyone can have it, however there are other factors that predisposes people on having it, such as:
- Age (children between two and 10 years of age, elderly people)
- Hypertension or high blood pressure
- Use of aspirin and anticoagulants or blood thinning medications (e.g warfarin, heparin)
- Blood clotting disorders (e.g haemophilia)
- Alcohol abuse
- Tumors and inherited bleeding problems
- Pregnant women (Hormonal changes during pregnancy)
First Aid Management
To manage a nosebleed:
1. Stop the bleeding.
Reassure the person, especially children, as crying increases blood flow.
2. Lean forward.
Sit the person up straight and drop their head slightly forward.
3. Pinch the nose.
Firmly pinch the soft part of the nose, just above the nostrils, for at least 10-15 minutes.
4. Breath through the mouth.
To drain blood into your nose instead of down the back of your throat.
5. Do these interventions.
- Loosen tight clothing around the neck.
- Place an ice pack or bag of frozen vegetables covered by a towel on the bridge of your nose
- After 10 minutes, release the pressure on the nostrils and check to see if the bleeding has stopped.
** Stuffing cotton or tissue into your nose is not recommended.
6. If bleeding stops…
- Tell the person not to sniff or blow their nose for at least 15 minutes and not to pick their nose for the rest of the day. (Having a nose full of clotted blood is unpleasant and children in particular may find it difficult to avoid sniffing or nose blowing for a few hours. Fifteen minutes will at least give some time for the clot to stabilise.)
- Stay upright, rather than lying down, as this reduces the blood pressure in the blood vessels of your nose and will discourage further bleeding
* Contact your GP, go to the nearest emergency department or call an ambulance, if:
- The bleeding continues for longer than 20 minutes and cannot be stopped or keeps occurring (persistent or chronic).
- The bleeding is rapid and heavy and blood loss is large.
- Taking a blood-thinning medicination.
- Feeling weak or faint.
- Having symptoms of anaemia such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath and a pale complexion.
- Have nosebleeds that come and go regularly.
- You swallow a large amount of blood that makes you vomit
- The nosebleed developed after a serious injury, such as a car crash.
- It is associated with trauma to the face, loss of consciousness, or blurry vision.
- If it is associated with a fever or headache.
- If an infant or baby has a nosebleed, contact the pediatrician.
Prevention
Things to do to prevent nosebleeds include:
- avoid picking the nose and keep fingernails short
- blow the nose as gentle as possible
- humidify your home
- wear a head guard during activities in which nose or head could get injured
- always follow the instructions that come with nasal decongestants because overusing these can cause nosebleeds
What remedies or medications can you take to prevent nosebleeds?
The most common cause of a nosebleed is drying of the nasal mucus membranes. By some means, it is beneficial to lubricate the nose with some type of ointment by gently applying it with a Q-tip or fingertip up inside the nose, especially on the middle portion or the septum.
Some people use remedies for nosebleeds including:
- Vaseline
- Saline mist nasal spray is often helpful (Ocean Spray)
- Methylsalicylate/ menthol
- Neomycin/ bacitracin/ polymyxin (Neosporin ointment)
** Nosebleeds in children may be prevented by insuring children do not pick their nose.
Conclusion
- Nosebleeding is common in children and is usually not a sign of an underlying disease.
- First aid treatment includes leaning forward and pinching the nostrils until the bleeding stops.
- If the bleeding persists, seek medical advise from a doctor or go to a hospital emergency department.
