Nosebleed

What is a nosebleed?

A nosebleed happens when the membranes lining the inside of the nose are disturbed or irritated enough to cause bleeding.

There are 2 types of nosebleeds: anterior and posterior. If the bleeding is near the front of the nose, it is an anterior nosebleed. If the bleeding is from the back of the nose, it is a posterior nosebleed. An anterior nosebleed is usually not as severe or serious as a posterior nosebleed. Most nosebleeds are anterior.

What is the cause?

The most common causes of nosebleed are:

• Irritation of the membranes lining the nose. This can be triggered by dry air or probing, bumping, picking, or rubbing your nose. Blowing your nose forcefully can also cause a nosebleed, especially if the nasal membrane is already inflamed because of allergies or an infection, such as a sinus infection.
• Injury to the face or nose.
• Rebleeding from an area of a previous nosebleed.
• High altitude.
• Drug abuse involving the nose, such as cocaine snorting or glue sniffing.
• High blood pressure.
• Medicine that makes it harder for your blood to clot.
• Medical problems that prevent your blood from clotting normally, such as liver disease.

Nosebleeds are common during pregnancy. Pregnant women have an increased supply of blood to all mucous membranes in the body including the membranes inside the nose. Because of the increased blood flow inside the nose, the blood vessels can become fragile and bleed easily.

If you have a nosebleed after a head injury, it could mean you have a fractured skull. You should go to the hospital right away.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of anterior nosebleed are bleeding that stops and starts or constant bleeding out of the front of your nose. Blood can flow from one or both nostrils. It may flow down your throat.

Symptoms of posterior nosebleed include rapid bleeding from the back of the nose or a slow but steady ooze. Sometimes the blood flows back into your throat and causes you to cough up blood. This is more common with posterior nose bleeding.

How is it diagnosed?

If you see your healthcare provider when you have a nosebleed, he or she will have you sit up and lean forward to determine the rate and site of the bleeding. Depending on the amount of bleeding you are having, your provider may check your pulse and blood pressure and take a blood sample to check for anemia. You may need tests to check the ability of your blood to clot and your blood type in case you lose too much blood and need a transfusion.

How is it treated?

Most nosebleeds are minor and respond to first aid. First aid for a nosebleed includes these steps:

1. When your nose starts bleeding, sit up and lean forward to keep blood from passing into your throat. (Blood in your throat could make you cough or choke.)
2. Pinch the soft part of your nose just below the nasal bones gently but firmly between your thumb and index finger and hold it for 5 full minutes.
3. If it keeps bleeding, hold it again for another 5 minutes.

After the bleeding stops, use a saline nasal spray or saline nose drops to keep the nose moist. Do not blow your nose for several hours after the bleeding stops.

Usually bleeding from the front of the nose stops after you have put pressure on it by pinching it. If a nosebleed lasts more than 10 minutes in spite of first aid, see your healthcare provider.

If you go to your healthcare provider with a nosebleed, it can be treated in different ways.

• Your provider will likely apply a cotton ball soaked with medicine to the site of the bleeding for 5 to 10 minutes.
• If your nose is still bleeding, your provider may apply a cotton ball soaked in stronger medicine for 5 minutes to numb and temporarily reduce the blood supply to the nasal membrane.
• Your healthcare provider may pack your nose with gauze coated with petroleum jelly or put a special balloon in your nose to put pressure on the bleeding blood vessel. Packing for anterior nosebleeds is less complicated and more comfortable than the packing required for posterior nosebleeds. Do not remove any packing yourself. Your provider must be the one to remove the packing to be sure the bleeding has stopped and does not start again when the packing is removed. Removing the packing yourself can start the bleeding again and be dangerous if the bleeding is heavy.
• Your healthcare provider might use a procedure called cauterization to make the blood clot at the bleeding site. After numbing the area inside the nose, your provider will use a swab to put silver nitrate on the area that is bleeding. Or your provider may apply a tiny amount of electricity on the bleeding area. This will help stop it from bleeding again.

Treatment, especially for posterior nosebleeds, may sometimes include staying at the hospital.

How long do the effects last?

Most nosebleeds stop within 10 minutes.

How can I take care of myself?

• Follow the treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• Use a humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to the air.
• Use a saline nose spray or drops.
• Check with your provider about any medicines you are using. For example, nosebleeds may be more severe or you may have them more often if you are taking aspirin.
• Do not use cocaine.
• Do not smoke.
• Avoid bending over, straining, lifting heavy objects, and exercising vigorously for a few days after a nosebleed.
• If you have heavy nosebleeds or more than 3 nosebleeds in a week, see your healthcare provider.

How can I help prevent a nosebleed?

Some causes of nosebleeds can be prevented as follows:

• To prevent dryness, keep the lining of your nose moist. Gently put a light coating of petroleum jelly inside your nose or use a saline nose spray twice a day.
• Avoid injuring the nasal membranes with nose picking, rubbing, or forceful nose-blowing.
• Keep your home humidified.