steps listed below
Happens right after surgery on your nose, or if you know you have a tumor or other growth in your noseHappens with other serious symptoms, such as chest painHappens after an injury, such as being hit in the faceWill not stop, and you take medicines that prevent blood clots, such as warfarin (brand name: Coumadin), clopidogrel (brand name: Plavix), or daily aspirin
If you have chest pain, feel woozy, or if you are bleeding a lot, call 9-1-1. Do not drive yourself to the hospital and do not ask someone else to drive you. ‚
Nosebleed self-care " ” With the right self-care, most nosebleeds stop on their own. Here's what you should do: ‚
1. Blow your nose. This might increase the bleeding for a moment, but that's OK. ‚
2. Sit or stand while bending forward a little at the waist. DO NOT lie down or tilt your head back. ‚
3. Pinch the soft area towards the bottom of your nose, below the bone (picture 1). DO NOT grip the bridge of your nose between your eyes. That will not work. DO NOT press on just 1 side, even if the bleeding is only on 1 side. That will not work either. ‚
4. Squeeze your nose shut for at least 15 minutes. (In children, squeeze for only 5 minutes.) Use a clock to time yourself. Do not release the pressure before the time is up to check if the bleeding has stopped. If you keep checking, you will ruin your chances of getting the bleeding to stop. ‚
If you follow these steps, and your nose keeps bleeding, repeat all the steps once more. Apply pressure for a total of at least 30 minutes (or 10 minutes for children). If you are still bleeding, go to the emergency room or an urgent care clinic. ‚
What if I get repeated nosebleeds? " ” Frequent nosebleeds can be caused by: ‚
- Breathing dry air all the time
- Using cold or allergy nasal sprays too much
- Frequent colds
- Snorting drugs into your nose, such as cocaine
In some cases, repeat nosebleeds can be a sign that your blood does not clot like it should. If that is the case, there are often other clues. For instance, people with clotting problems bruise easily and might bleed more than you would expect after a small cut or scrape. ‚
Nosebleed treatment " ” If you end up seeing a doctor or nurse for your nosebleed, he or she will make sure you can breathe OK. Then he or she will try to get the bleeding to stop. To do that, he or she might have to put a device or some packing material up your nose. ‚
What can I do to keep from getting nosebleeds? " ” You can: ‚
- Use a humidifier (a machine that makes the air less dry) in your bedroom when you sleep
- Keep the inside of your nose moist with a nasal saline spray or gel
- Not pick your nose, or at least clip your nails before you do to avoid injury
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. ‚
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. ‚
Topic 15461 Version 4.0 ‚
Release: 22.8 - C22.208 ‚
‚ © 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. ‚
picture 1
How to stop a nosebleed
To stop a nosebleed, sit or stand while bending forward a little at the waist. Then pinch the soft area towards the bottom of your nose, below the bone. Squeeze both sides of your nose shut for at least 15 minutes. (In children, squeeze for only 5 minutes.) Do not check to see if the bleeding has stopped until your time is up.
Graphic 62213 Version 4.0
View Originalpicture 1
How to stop a nosebleed
To stop a nosebleed, sit or stand while bending forward a little at the waist. Then pinch the soft area towards the bottom of your nose, below the bone. Squeeze both sides of your nose shut for at least 15 minutes. (In children, squeeze for only 5 minutes.) Do not check to see if the bleeding has stopped until your time is up.
Graphic 62213 Version 4.0
View Original
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you.The use of UpToDate content is governed by the UpToDate Terms of Use. ‚ ©2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. ‚
Copyright
‚ © 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. ‚