NOSEBLEED

Most of us can recall having had a nosebleed. Nosebleeds are common because of the rich supply of fragile blood vessels inside the nose. This makes it especially prone to bleeding. Nosebleeds usually occur on one side at a time and generally stop on their own. The most common cause of nosebleeds is from irritated or very dry membranes. There is usually no need for special treatment. To avoid dry nasal membranes, humidify the air in your home.

To stop a simple nosebleed, follow these instructions:

When your nose starts bleeding, sit up and lean forward to prevent blood from passing into your throat.
Pinch your nose firmly between your thumb and index finger, just below the nasal bones. Hold fairly tightly for a full 5 minutes according to a clock before releasing pressure.
Afterwards, do not blow your nose for a number of hours.
Try putting an ice pack over the bridge of your nose.

If these procedures do not work after 2 attempts, call your healthcare provider. A health professional may treat more serious nosebleeds by packing the nose with petroleum gauze or a special balloon to provide pressure. The packing may have to remain in place for a day or so. The bleeding blood vessel may need to be cauterized so that it will not bleed again.

Other medical conditions may rarely cause nosebleeds. These include:

kidney problems
medication side effects
blood and clotting disorders
high blood pressure and
tissue damage from drugs such as cocaine or glue sniffing

See your provider if you have more than 3 nosebleeds in a week or have heavy nosebleeds. Tests may need to be done to determine if your blood is clotting properly and what is causing the nosebleed.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File EARN4913.RF2 VRS# 4913 Data Version 7.0