What To Do When Your Noise Bleeds
Childeren and adults are prone to getting nose bleeds. The sight of blood may make people panic, but it's not really serious as it seems. The blood is due to the location of the nose on the face, and the large amount of blood vessels that can pop up or break due to differents reason that i will mension bellow.
There are two kinds of nosebleeds. An anterior nosebleed occurs when the blood vessels in the front of the nose break and bleed. A posterior nosebleed occurs in the back or the deepest part of the nose. In that case, blood flows down the back of the throat. Posterior nosebleeds can be dangerous.
Most commonly, trauma to the nose triggers a nosebleed. Trauma to the outside of the nose, such as a blow to the face, or trauma inside the nose, such as nose picking or repeated irritation from a cold, can cause a nosebleed.
Less commonly, an underlying disease process, such as an inability of theblood to clot, may contribute to the bleeding. Inability of the blood to clot is most often due to blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin(Coumadin) or aspirin. Liver disease can also interfere with blood clotting. Abnormal blood vessels or cancers in the nose are rare causes of nosebleeds. High blood pressure may contribute to bleeding but is almost never the only reason for a nosebleed.
There are two kinds of nosebleeds. An anterior nosebleed occurs when the blood vessels in the front of the nose break and bleed. A posterior nosebleed occurs in the back or the deepest part of the nose. In that case, blood flows down the back of the throat. Posterior nosebleeds can be dangerous.
What causes nosebleeds?
Less commonly, an underlying disease process, such as an inability of theblood to clot, may contribute to the bleeding. Inability of the blood to clot is most often due to blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin(Coumadin) or aspirin. Liver disease can also interfere with blood clotting. Abnormal blood vessels or cancers in the nose are rare causes of nosebleeds. High blood pressure may contribute to bleeding but is almost never the only reason for a nosebleed.
Other common causes of nosebleeds include:
Other causes of nosebleeds include high blood pressure, a bleeding disorder, blood clotting disorder, and cancer.
- object stuck in the nose
- chemical irritants
- allergic reaction
- injury to the nose
- repeated sneezing
- nose picking
- cold air
- upper respiratory infection
- large doses of aspirin
Most nosebleeds do not require medical attention. However, you should seek medical attention if your nosebleed lasts longer than 20 minutes or occurs after an injury. This may be a sign of a posterior nosebleed.
Injuries that might cause a nosebleed include a fall, a car accident, or a punch in the face. Nosebleeds that occur after an injury may indicate a broken nose, skull fracture, or internal bleeding.
Diagnosing a Nosebleed
If you seek medical attention for a nosebleed, your doctor will conduct a physical examination to determine a cause. He or she will check your nose for signs of a foreign object. Your doctor will also ask questions about your medical history and current medications.
Alert your doctor to other symptoms you may have, as well as any recent injuries. There is no single test to determine the cause of a nosebleed. However, your doctor might use diagnostic tests to find the cause of nosebleeds. These tests include:
- a complete blood count: a blood test to check for blood disorders
- nasal endoscopy: examination of the nose
- partial thromboplastin time: a blood test that checks how long it takes your blood to clot
- CT scan of the nose: imaging test that takes cross-sectional pictures of the nose
- X-ray of the face and nose: imaging test that uses radiation to produce pictures of the nose
How to Treat a Nosebleed
Most people who develop nose bleeding can handle the problem without the need of a physician if they follow the step-by-step first aid recommendations below:
- Pinch all the soft parts of the nose together between the thumb and index finger.
- Press firmly toward the face - compressing the pinched parts of the nose against the bones of the face.
- Lean forward slightly with the head tilted forward. Leaning back or tilting the head back allows the blood to run back into the sinuses and throat and can cause gagging or inhaling the blood.
- Hold the nose for at least five minutes. Repeat as necessary until the nose has stopped bleeding.
- Sit quietly, keeping the head higher than the level of the heart. Do not lay flat or put your head between your legs.
- Apply ice (wrapped in a towel) to nose and cheeks.
How do you prevent the nose from bleeding again?
Most nosebleeds can be stopped at home.Consult a doctor for a nosebleed if bleeding cannot be stopped, there is a large amount of blood lost, or you feel weak or faint.
- Go home and rest with head elevated at 30 to 45 degrees.
- Do not blow your nose or put anything into it. If you have to sneeze, open your mouth so that the air will escape out the mouth and not through the nose.
- Do not strain during bowel movements. Use a stool softener (for example, docusate [Colace]).
- Do not strain or bend down to lift anything heavy.
- Try to keep your head higher than the level of your heart.
- Do not smoke.
- Stay a cool diet of soft, cool foods and beverages. No hot liquids for at least 24 hours.
- Do not take any medications that will thin the blood for example, aspirin,ibuprofen, clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix) or warfarin (Coumadin). Do not stop taking any medications without first contacting your doctor.
- Your doctor may recommend some form of lubricating ointment for the inside of the nose.
- If re-bleeding occurs, try to clear the nose of clots by sniffing in forcefully. A temporary remedy such as a nasal decongestant spray, for example, Afrin or Neo-Synephrine may be helpful. These types of sprays constrict blood vessels. (NOTE: If used for many days at a time, these can cause addiction so they are recommended for short-term use only. Do not use if the patient has high blood pressure.)
- Repeat the steps above on how to stop the common nosebleed. If bleeding persists, call the doctor and/or go to the nearest emergency department.
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