Have you ever had a nosebleed that just won't quit? If so, you know how frustrating and scary it can be. It's like your nose has become a fire hydrant and there's no way to turn off the valve. Don't panic! There are steps you can take to stop the bleeding and prevent future nosebleeds. In this article, we'll cover what causes nosebleeds, how to treat them at home, when to seek medical attention, and tips for preventing future nosebleeds.
What Causes Nosebleeds?
Nosebleeds occur when blood vessels in the lining of your nasal cavity rupture or break. This can happen for several reasons:
Dry Air
Dry air dries out the inside of your nostrils, making them more susceptible to cracking and bleeding.
Picking Your Nose
Picking your nose is not only gross but also dangerous because it can damage the delicate tissues inside your nostrils.
Clotting Disorders
If you have a clotting disorder such as hemophilia or von Willebrand disease, you may experience frequent or severe nosebleeds.
Medications
Some medications such as anticoagulants (blood thinners) can increase your risk of developing an acute episode of epistaxis - fancy word for "nose bleed."
High Blood Pressure
People with high blood pressure may experience frequent episodes of bleedin' noses.
How To Treat A Nose Bleeding At Home
Now I know some people prefer visiting hospitals whenever they have any health-related issues. But hey! As long as the bleeding isn't too serious, there are measures one could take from home before having 'em hurry into crowded emergency rooms full'a sick people during these COVID times.
Since we all want our patients alive with minimal resistance right? There are measures one could take at home for any nose bleeds.
Follow These Steps:
- Sit down and prop your head up. This helps to decrease blood pressure in the vessels of your nose.
- Breathe through your mouth; do not pinch or shut off airflow from both nostrils. You would be amazed how many people don't know this!
- Using clean hands, apply light pressure to both sides of the lower soft part of the nose (nostrils) while holding a tissue or cloth underneath to catch drips.
- Hold steady for 10-15 minutes without checking whether bleeding has stopped - these things take time, patience.
Pro tip: Placing an ice pack on the bridge of your nose can constrict blood vessels and help slow down blood flow."
When To Seek Medical Attention
As with all health symptoms even if it's as little as a "pimple", visits to medical centers should always be considered depending on their severity
You shouldn't hesitate visiting an emergency room if:
-
The bleeding hasn’t stopped after twenty minutes: Time is money but also everyone likes top-quality goods right? See y'all understand my point!
-
Your child has frequent episodes: Children who have recurring episodes need attention and yeah! better safe than sorry mate!
-
There was severe impact before onset: Maybe you ran into something earlier causing injury that later erupted into continuous bleeding/persistent clotting issues? Get some professional (read RED CROSS certified) eyes looking into that ASAP!
To cap it off, adults over age fifty-five with no history of epistaxis may require further evaluation by a doctor due to increased risk factors.
Tips For Preventing Future Nosebleeds
Preventing future occurrences does not follow conventional management like most normal health conditions
Follow these steps:
Keep Your Nostrils Moist
Using nasal saline spray can help keep the nasal cavity from drying out.
Use Humidifiers
Humidifiers can add moisture to dry indoor air that irritates and dries out the lining of sinuses in your nose.
Don’t Pick Your Nose
No buts, no ifs. We are not picking our noses!
Conclusion
Nosebleeds happen it's a small price we pay for ensuring good breathing - still beats having blocked nostrils eh? Using the advice listed above will prevent serious problems or possible panic in case they occur.
Remember guys: "Prevention is always better than cure"
And there you have it folks! Get yourself some tissues and healthy living, so as to avoid frequent visits to medical centers or embarrassing situations whilst conversing with people.