Nosebleeds with Blood Clots

by Sam Malone

When the tissues present in your nose are injured either due to trauma or an injury, you will suffer from nosebleeds also known as epistaxis. Anterior nosebleeds are more common, and the blood will be easily visible at the front of the nose. In this case, the nose bleeds and blood clots quickly. Bleeding at the back of the nose or posterior bleeds are severe nosebleeds with clots that tend to be slow and steady and are of a more serious nature, requiring immediate medical treatment. These injuries usually arise while playing contact sports or from an injury to the head. Nosebleed clots are more commonly found in people who suffer from chronic nosebleeds. Nosebleeds usually affect only one nostril, but when blood clots the blood could tend to flow from the other nostril as well.

What Causes Nosebleeds?

There are a number of reasons as to why your nose could start bleeding.

Damaged membranes in the nose due to excessive nose blowing, excess force applied while blowing your nose, or picking your nose. This is more likely to affect people who have the common cold or some sort of bacterial or viral infection.
Dry air irritates the nasal membranes, and in some cases causes them to breakdown; this usually arises in winter or you are surrounded by dry air e.g.aircrafts, air-conditioned rooms, etc.
People who suffer from nosebleeds often may have an issue with the blood clotting quickly. If you notice that you tend to get injured or bruise easily, contact your doctor so that they can find out what is causing the bleeding.
Drinking alcohol in huge amounts tends to affect the way the platelets in your body work, which, in turn, augments the time in which your blood clots. Alcohol also enlarges superficial blood vessels, and when this happens it puts you at higher risk of injury or bleeding.
Low platelet count could lead to nosebleeds.
High blood pressure causes nosebleeds and blood clots.
Any sort of injury or trauma to the head could cause your nose to bleed.
Look out for these symptoms:
Regular nosebleeds or bleeding easily could be a symptom of either blood clotting disorder or low platelet count in your system.
Unusual levels of fatigue and exhaustion that could be caused if you are anemic and because of the bleeding or some other health disorder. This could leave you so tired that you are unable to do normal activities.
Tiny red dots known as petechiae appearing on the lower legs are a sign of low platelet count.
Recurrent and mysterious bruising or nosebleeds are the strongest symptom of a bleeding disorder.

How to Manage your Nosebleed?

Here are a few tips that you can follow to try to get your nosebleed under control.

Avoid lying down; instead sit up straight in either a chair or your bed. This is a precaution taken to avoid you coughing or choking on blood that could be going to the back of your throat.
Pinch your nose using your index finger and thumb; maintain pressure for 10 minutes while keeping your head straight. You can try to tilt it back a little if it is not hurting you too much.
In an anterior bleed where the blood is at the front of the nose, moisten a cotton ball and place it in your nose. Do not remove it till the bleeding has stopped; if a nosebleed clot has formed, you can remove it.
Apply petroleum jelly in your nose as this will keep the nasal membrane moist. Also use a humidifier at home if you suffer from nosebleeds.

If you try all these methods and the bleeding does not stop after 15 to 20 minutes, it could be a more serious problem and you will require medical attention. Notify your doctor on all the medication that you are taking as prescription blood thinners and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can tend to interfere with the blood clotting.

References:

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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