Types & Home Remedies for Nosebleeds

Nose bleeds are common and harmless, and are otherwise known as epistaxis. They occur when there is a hemorrhage in the nose and can be diagnosed when you find blood in your nostrils or when blood flows out of the nose. There are many tiny capillaries in the nasal passage that can rupture and cause the nose to bleed.

There are two types of nose bleeds: one is the known as anterior bleeding, which is not cause for much worry, and the other is known as posterior bleeding, which requires medical attention. In severe cases, blood can cross through the nasolacrimal duct and come out through the eye.  Sometimes, blood can also flow into the stomach through the throat, causing nausea and vomiting.

Nose bleeds are often caused by trauma to the nose, such as a punch in the face, which can also lead to nose fractures. It can also be due to foreign objects in the nose. Often, nose bleeds occur due to constant picking of the nose.

Other factors could include:

• Nasal sprays
• Surgery
• Low relative humidity
• Hypertension
• Medication like ibuprofen
• Descent or ascent in an aircraft or during scuba diving
• Drugs like cocaine
• Alcohol
• Heart failure
• Vitamin C and vitamin K deficiency
• Liver disease

Other conditions that can heighten nose bleed are hemophilia, leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, or rheumatic fever. Anticoagulant medication and blood disorders can also cause nose bleeding for prolonged periods.

As mentioned earlier, nose bleeds occur when blood vessels in the perfused nasal mucosa rupture; they can be spontaneous or induced due to trauma. Nose bleeds mostly affect children under the age of ten and adults above 50 years; they are also more common in men than women.

There are many home remedies to stop a nose bleed, and some of the common ones have been listed below.

• To begin with, sit in an upright position, which will slowly stop the nose bleed. Avoid tilting your head backwards as this can allow the blood to flow to the throat, making you swallow it. This can cause nausea and vomiting. You can tilt your head forwards.
• Pinch the soft part of the nose for about ten minutes to stop a nose bleed.
• Do not blow your nose or sneeze for some time.
• Relax for 30 minutes to get back to normal condition before you start moving around.
• To stop a nose bleed, you can smell a freshly cut onion; the sulfur in it acts as thickening agent.
• A piece of cotton or clean gauze can be dipped in vinegar and placed in the nose to restrict nose bleeding. Allow it to sit for ten minutes to stop the bleeding.
• Sniffing witch hazel tea is said to be beneficial to stop nose bleeding.
• For long-term benefits, drink two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in one glass of water thrice a day. This will reinstate the clotting properties of the blood.
• Eat foods that are rich in vitamin C and vitamin K, or take vitamin supplements for a month based on a doctor’s prescription.
• Dry air can worsen nose bleeds so it is best to place a use a humidifier in the room to moisten the air.

While these are all home remedies and first aid tips, a nose bleed can be serious. If the bleeding is consistent for more than twenty minutes, call for medical help immediately. Also, get a thorough check up done, as frequent nose bleeds (without any obvious cause like trauma or injury) could be an indication of a more serious problem.

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003106.htm