Any injury to the tissues inside the nose can cause a nosebleed. Injury can result from a blow to the nose; the intrusion of foreign objects (including fingers); a sudden change in the atmospheric pressure; or simply blowing the nose too forcefully. Winter/cold weather often brings about nosebleeds because heated air tends to be dry. Excessive dryness can cause the nasal membranes to crack, form crusts, and bleed.
In some cases, nosebleeds – medically termed epistaxis – can be associated with an underlying illness. Arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, malaria, scarlet fever, sinusitis, and typhoid fever are all known to cause nosebleeds, some of which can be serious and result in significant blood loss. Conditions that cause increased bleeding tendencies, such as haemophilia, leukemia, thrombocytopenia (a below normal concentration of platelets in the blood), aplastic anemia, or liver disease, also may be implicated in nosebleeds.
Nosebleeds are much more common in children than in adults. This is no doubt largely due to the fact that children are prone to inserting their fingers and other objects into their nostrils. In addition, children’s tissues, including the mucous membranes lining the nose, are thinner than those of adults and therefore more susceptible to damage.
There are two classifications of nosebleeds, depending on where in the nose the blood is coming from. Posterior nosebleeds primarily afflict elderly people and those with high blood pressure. In this type of nosebleed, blood comes from the rear of the nose and runs down the back of the mouth into the throat, no matter what position the person is in. The blood is usually dark red in colour, although it can be bright red. If the bleeding is severe, blood can flow from the nostrils as well.
The overwhelming majority of nosebleeds are anterior nosebleeds, in which bright-red blood flows from the front part of the nose. Most often they are the result of some type of trauma to the nasal tissues. If the person stands or sits, the flow of blood comes out of one or both nostrils. If the person lies on his or her back, the blood may flow backward, into the throat. This type of nosebleed can be frightening and may look as if there is a lot of blood, but in reality, it is not usually serious, and very little blood is actually lost.
What to do when nose bleeding
To stop the anterior bleed, do the following:
- Sit up in a chair and lean forward (do not tilt your head back). Do not put your head between your legs or lie flat on your back.
- Pinch all the soft parts of the nose together between your thumb and index finger for approximately ten minutes. Breathe through your mouth.
- Apply crushed ice or cold washcloths to your nose, neck, and cheeks. This can be done both as you follow step 2, above, and afterwards.
- The lie back until the bleeding subsides. Refrain from any physical activity for a few hours and any vigorous exercise for at least two days.
- If the bleeding does not stop, place a piece of cotton moistened with water or an over-the-counter decongestant spray into the nasal cavity. Hold your nostrils together tightly for about five minutes.
- To help stop a nosebleed, try rolling a piece of cotton or gauze and place it in the top part of your upper lip, under the gum. An artery supplying blood to the nose is located in this region. Applying pressure in this manner may help constrict the blood flow.
- If you suspect a posterior nosebleed, consult your doctor. This type of nosebleed requires the care of a physician.
- Do not blow your nose for at least twelve hours after a nosebleed stops. Doing so may dislodge the blood clots that stanch bleeding.
- While healing, eat plenty of foods high in Vitamin K, which is essential for normal blood clotting. Good sources include kale and all dark green leafy vegetables.
- Avoid foods high in salicylates, aspirin like substances found in tea, coffee, most fruits, and some vegetables. Foods to avoid include apples, apricots, almonds, all berries, cloves, cherries cucumbers, currants, grapes, mint, bell peppers, peaches, pickles, plums, raisins, and tomatoes.
- When you sneeze, keep your mouth open.
- If you have frequent nosebleeds, see you doctor. The cause of frequent nosebleeds is often an underlying problem such as hypertension, which should be treated.