Very few of us get through life without having a nosebleed.  When they happen, which is usually sudden and unexpected, they can be unsettling and somewhat scary and sometimes hard to stop.  

Causes of a nosebleed are generally mild and can vary from having a cold or sinus infection, to dry air or a scab being dislodged inside the nose.  Other causes could be certain medications such as nasal steroids or trauma to the nose from an injury.

Most nosebleeds can be treated at home and are rarely life-threatening.  Usually nosebleeds can be easily treated with the following steps:

·         Sit up and lean forward– By sitting up, the pressure is reduced in the veins of the nose, slowing down the flow of blood.  Leaning slightly forward will avoid swallowing any blood.

  ·         Blow the nose – But be very gentle doing this and only blow or once or twice to remove any clotted blood.

  ·         Pinch the nose – Pinch the front, soft part of your nose with your thumb and index finger and breathe through your mouth for your five minutes to stop the flow of blood.  If the bleeding hasn’t stopped within five minutes, continue pinching the nose.

  To prevent another nose bleed from starting up again, don’t pick or blow the nose for a few days and avoid straining or bending down for several hours.  It the nose bleed is due to trauma or a head injury or if it hasn’t stopped after 30 minutes, seek medical help immediately.

  To avoid nosebleeds, keep the interior lining of the nose moist by regularly applying petroleum jelly inside the nose and using a humidifier adding moisture to the air. 

  Nosebleeds that are occurring more than once a week need to be brought to the attention of a physician.  It’s possible that referral to an ear, nose, and throat doctor may be necessary to take a closer look at the nasal passages.  Anyone on a blood thinner and is experiencing frequent nosebleeds, may need to have their doctor adjust the dosage.