Nosebleed, also known as epistaxis, can occur spontaneously with no apparent reason. It usually happens when the inner lining of your nose is overly dry or hurt. There are blood vessels in the area inside middle tissue that separates both nostrils, and these vessels may break and bleed due to dryness or injury. You are more likely to deal with nosebleeds if you have sinusitis, nasal allergies, bleeding disorders, or hypertension.In order to learn how to stop a nosebleed, finding out causes and triggers helps a lot. Below are some steps and options you can expect.
How to Stop Nosebleed Step by Step
You can do a few things to stop a nosebleed. For instance:
Step 1: Sit straight and tilt your head slightly forward. Just never let your head tilt backward. If you tilt it that way, you may feel blood running down the back of your throat, which may lead to irritation in your stomach and even cause vomiting. Spit out any blood that comes into your mouth.
Step 2: Pinch the soft part of your nose hard with the help of your forefinger and thumb. Becausethe bleeding occurs in the soft part of your nose, which is made of cartilage, keeping your nose shut will help stop bleeding. You may also consider spraying a medicated nasal spray in your nose before applying pressure. While doing this, you need to breathe through your mouth.
Step 3: Using an icepack is another effective answer to how to stop a nosebleed. Applying an icepack to your nose will constrict the blood vessels and stop a nosebleed.
Step 4: Be sure to pinch your nose for at least 10 minutes. Do not take a break after a few minutes to see if the bleeding has stopped. Use a clock to continue pinching your nose for 10 consecutive minutes.
Check again after 10 minutes. If there is still bleeding, pinch your nose for another 10 minutes. Usually, a common nosebleed will stop for 10 to 20 minutes of pressure pinch.
Step 5: Take a water- or saline-based nasal gel and apply a thin layer in your nose – you can also use an antiseptic nasal cream.
Step 6: Be sure to take some rest after the bleeding has stopped, and do not blow your nose again for at least 12 hours after the bleeding has stopped. If you blow your nose, the bleeding may start again.
Here is a vidoe that can help learn more details to stop nosebleed:
When to Seek Medical Help
The steps mentioned above will help you learn how to stop a nosebleed in most cases,but there are cases when you may want to talk to your doctor to confirm there is nothing serious.
You should also seek immediate medical attention if your bleeding does not stop after a while (20 minutes or so) or your child (under 2) has a nosebleed. Call emergency service if you are experiencing breathing difficulties, have swallowed a large amount of blood, or are experiencing bleeding after a serious injury.
In addition, you should contact your doctor with these conditions:
- You are on blood-thinning medications.
- You have hemophilia or another clotting disorder.
- You experience shortness of breath, heart palpitation, and other symptoms of anaemia.
- You have nosebleeds quite often.
Common Triggers and Preventions of Nosebleeds
Along with learning how to stop a nosebleed, it is equally important to learn a bit about common triggers to prevent it from happening in the first place. You may experience a nosebleed due to frequent nose picking, dry membranes in your nose, or trauma. To prevent a nosebleed, be sure to use a soft tissue whenever you are blowing your nose. Avoid picking your nose too often and never do it forcefully. Talk to your doctor if your nosebleeds are due to dry nose membranes – they may prescribe a special lubricant to moisten the inner lining of your nose.