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EAR – NOSE – THROAT

Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds can be scary! The good news is that most of them are not serious and can be stopped with home treatment. The majority of nosebleeds come from the front (anterior) of the nose and involve just one side of your nose. The blood can drain down to the back of your nose and drip down your throat.

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A more serious kind of nosebleed comes from the back (posterior) of the nose. This kind of nosebleed often involves BOTH sides of the nose. Large amounts of blood can run down the back of the throat. This type of nosebleed is more common in older adults and requires medical care. You cannot stop a posterior nosebleed at home. 

Causes of Nosebleeds

Injuries to your nose: 

  • Nose picking or putting things inside the nose (rolled up tissue, cotton swabs or toys) 

  • Blowing the nose too much 

  • Getting struck in the nose or hitting the nose on something 

 

Things in your environment: 

  • Fumes from chemicals or smoke 

  • Dry air 

  • High altitude 

Medical problems 

  • Polyps inside the nose 

  • Deviated septum (when the cartilage in the centre of the nose is shifted) 

  • Abnormal blood vessels inside the nose 

  • Colds, allergies or sinus infections 

  • Liver disease 

  • Blood clotting disorders 

 

Medicines and Drugs 

  • Blood thinners like aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) 

  • Use of oxygen, especially by nasal prongs 

  • Nasal sprays

  • Snorting illegal drugs like cocaine or speed

Stopping a Nosebleed

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  • Blow your nose gently to clear away any clots 

  • Pinch your nose shut using your thumb and forefinger (see diagram); you should be pinching the soft part of the nose, close to the tip. Do not pinch up high where the firm boney part is. If you have nasal decongestant spray at home (ex. Otrivin), spray it into the affected side of the nose before pinching. 

  • Sit up straight and tilt your head forward 

  • DO NOT TILT YOUR HEAD BACK! This will cause blood to run down the back of your throat and could make you vomit (which will make the nosebleed worse). 

  • Keep your nose pinched for 5 FULL MINUTES. Set a timer to make sure. Do not stop the pressure to see if it has stopped. 5 minutes will feel like forever, but it takes this long to make the bleeding stop. 

  • After the 5 minutes is up, you can check to see if the bleeding has stopped. If it is still bleeding, continue to pinch for another 15 minutes. 

  • DO NOT BLOW YOUR NOSE FOR 24 HOURS. If your nose is running, dab it, but do not blow and do not put tissue inside the nose. 

  • Rest quietly for a few hours after the nosebleed has stopped. 

When to See a Doctor

  • You think you are having a posterior nosebleed (heavy bleeding from both sides of the nose) 

  • You cannot stop your nosebleed after 20 minutes of good, firm pressure 

  • You are getting frequent nosebleeds (4 or more times in 1 week) 

  • Your symptoms are getting worse or more frequent 

How to Prevent Nosebleeds

  • Don't pick your nose 

  • Moisturize your nose: 

    • Use a thin layer of petroleum jelly inside your nose at bedtime. You can put a small amount of jelly just inside each nostril and then gently inhale it to coat the inside of your nose. You can use your finger to spread it if you need to, but NO PICKING! 

    • Use a vaporizer or humidifer in your house, especially in your bedroom at night. This is most important during the cold and dry winter months. 

  • Quit smoking and stay away from second hand smoke 

  • Limit the use of decongestants and antihistamines 

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