NosebleedsHome Treatment
How to stop a nosebleed Follow these steps to stop
a nosebleed: - Sit up straight and tip your head slightly
forward. See an illustration of
how to stop a nosebleed
.
- Note: Do not
tilt your head back. This may cause blood to run down the back of your throat,
and you may swallow it. Swallowed blood can irritate your stomach and cause
vomiting. And vomiting may make the bleeding worse or cause it to start again.
Spit out any blood that gathers in your mouth and throat rather than swallowing
it.
- Blow all the clots out of your nose. This may
require fairly forceful blowing, and the bleeding may increase when clots come
out of the nose.
- After blowing out the clots, use your thumb and
forefinger to firmly pinch the soft part of your nose shut. The nose consists
of a hard, bony part and a softer part made of cartilage. Nosebleeds usually
occur in the soft part of the nose. Spraying the nose with a medicated nasal
spray (such as Afrin) before applying pressure may help stop a nosebleed. You
will have to breathe through your mouth.
- Apply an ice pack to your
nose and cheeks. Cold will constrict the blood vessels and help stop the
bleeding.
- Keep pinching for a full 10 minutes. Use a clock to time
the 10 minutes. It can seem like a long time. Resist the urge to peek after a
few minutes to see if your nose has stopped bleeding.
- Check to see
if your nose is still bleeding after 10 minutes. If it is, hold it for 10 more
minutes. Most nosebleeds will stop after 10 to 20 minutes of direct
pressure.
- Put a light coating of a moisturizing ointment, such as
Vaseline, inside your nose. Do not blow your nose or put anything else inside
your nose for at least 12 hours after the bleeding has stopped.
- Rest quietly for a few hours.
Nosebleeds in children - Crying increases the blood flow to the face
and makes bleeding from the nose worse. If your child has a nosebleed and is
crying, speak in a quiet, relaxed manner to help control your child's
fear.
- Make sure to check for an object in the nostrils. If an
object is found, go to the topic
Objects in the Nose.
Symptoms to Watch For During Home TreatmentUse the Check Your Symptoms section to
evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home
treatment: - A nosebleed cannot be stopped after 10 to 20
minutes of direct pressure.
- Nosebleeds recur 4 or more times in 1
week after trying prevention measures.
- Nosebleeds become more
severe or more frequent.
Go to previous section | Go to top of page | Go to next section |
| | Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: April 20, 2007 | | Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology | © 1995-2009 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
| 
| |
| |