Nosebleeds, also called epistaxes
, involve bleeding from the inside of your nose. Many people have occasional nosebleeds,
particularly younger children and older adults.
Although nosebleeds may be scary,
they're generally only a minor annoyance and aren't dangerous. Frequent
nosebleeds are those that occur more than once a week.
The lining of your nose contains
many tiny blood vessels that lie close to the surface and are easily damaged.
Causes
The two most common causes of
nosebleeds are:
Dry air — when your nasal
membranes dry out, they're more susceptible to bleeding and infections
Nose picking
Other causes of nosebleeds include:
Acute sinusitis
Allergies
Aspirin use
Bleeding disorders, such as
hemophilia
Blood thinners (anticoagulants),
such as warfarin and heparin
Chemical irritants, such as
ammonia
Cocaine use
Common cold
Deviated septum
Foreign body in the nose
Nasal sprays, such as those used
to treat allergies, if used frequently
Nonallergic rhinitis
Trauma to the nose
Less common causes of nosebleeds include:
Hereditary hemorrhagic
telangiectasia
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic
purpura (ITP)
Leukemia
Nasal polyps
Nasal surgery
Nasal tumor
Second trimester pregnancy
In general, nosebleeds are not a
symptom or result of high blood pressure. It is possible, but rare, that severe
high blood pressure may worsen or prolong bleeding if you have a nosebleed.
Remedies for Nosebleed
1. Pinch the Nose
The easiest way to stop a
nosebleed is the time-honored pinch cure. Pinching the nose sends pressure to
the bleeding point in the nasal septum, which helps stop the flow of blood
immediately.
Sit up straight with your head
tilted slightly forward.
Using your thumb and index
finger, pinch the soft part of your nose below the bony bridge.
Do this for 5 to 10 minutes.
During this time, breathe through your mouth.
Release the pressure gently and
sit quietly for 5 minutes.
Repeat as necessary until the
bleeding stops.
Note: Do not lay flat, tilt your
head back or put your head between your legs. Also, do not blow your nose.