Nosebleeds, which can be common in children and people over 45, typically are not a sign of anything serious. But there may be times when you should be concerned about an underlying cause for a nosebleed, explains Dr. Khalid Zalmay, BMBS, MRCGP.
What causes a nosebleed? Most nosebleeds start from just inside the entrance of the nostril up to the middle, more rigid part of the nostril, also known as the nasal septum. Here, the blood vessels are fragile and can rupture easily due to irritation from nose-picking, colds and hay fever, blowing the nose and other causes. Nosebleeds also are more common in people with high blood pressure. That’s because the small blood vessels in the nostrils dilate and bleed under the stress of high blood pressure.
Thankfully, most nosebleeds are easy to control and stop quickly. But bleeding can last longer if you have a clotting problem, heart failure or take blood-thinning medicines like aspirin or warfarin.
How to stop a nosebleed. I regularly hear from patients who use outdated and ineffective ways to stop nosebleeds—even inserting tissue into their nose! Here is the best science-backed way to deal with a nosebleed…
- Using your finger and thumb, firmly pinch the soft, fleshy part just below the rigid part of your nose.
- Apply continuous pressure for 10 to 15 minutes—this usually is enough to stop the bleeding.
- If the bleeding continues after you’ve applied steps one and two, while continuing to pinch your nose, place a bag of frozen peas or some ice wrapped in a towel higher up on the nose until the bleeding stops—the cold can sometimes help reduce the blood flow.
- Once the bleeding has stopped, avoid picking or blowing the nose—this can trigger another bleed.
When to seek urgent medical advice during a nosebleed: For most people, nosebleeds are rare and typically resolve quickly. But here are reasons to seek urgent medical support…
- You feel dizzy, faint or short of breath.
- The bleeding doesn’t stop after 10 to 15 minutes.
- You have had a blow to the head that started the bleeding.
- You have a medical condition that prevents your blood from clotting properly.
- You had a large amount of bleeding and swallowed a large amount of blood that made you vomit.
When to speak to your doctor about your nosebleeds. If you have started having nosebleeds out of the blue and they are becoming more frequent, speak to your doctor. Sometimes it can be related to your blood pressure creeping up.
Note: It may be worth taking daily blood pressure measurements for the two weeks prior to your doctor’s appointment. Also, seek a professional review if you have nosebleeds and symptoms of anemia—shortness of breath, palpitations, feeling dizzy and feeing fatigue. Nosebleeds that take a long time to stop can result in anemia due to blood loss.
