How to Treat a Nosebleed

Dealing with a nose bleed is something that nearly every individual has experienced at some point during his or her life. Bleeding from one or both nostrils is not always easy to staunch, but can be treated through a variety of methods.Nosebleeds may be caused by breathing very dry air, irritation, injuries as well as allergies and illnesses. Sometimes, a person's nose may bleed for no apparent reason. Nosebleeds are experienced by all age groups and genders, but are more commonly seen in children than adults.Learning how to properly treat a nosebleed may help relieve breathing difficulties as well as to prevent or reduce the chances of complications, such as severe blood loss.

Things You'll Need

• Cold compress

Instructions

1. Be alert to blood gushing or streaming from the nose, often caused by rough play and sporting activities. The first step to treating and stopping nosebleeds is to pinch the nostrils together. Bend the head bent forward. Never lean the head backward, as this may cause blood to run down the throat and cause choking or accidental aspiration of blood into the lungs.

2. Apply ice pack or a cold compress to the nose while maintaining pressure, if possible. This will help to reduce swelling and also slow blood flow by slowing down circulation.

3. Release the nose pressure after about 10 minutes. This will allow time for blood to start clotting. Wait for about 30 seconds. Try talking to make sure bleeding has stopped. Do not blow your nose! If bleeding continues, or stops for a while and then continues, repeat the process. If bleeding does not stop after two or three attempts, or if blood flow is severe, visit a health care provider as soon as possible.

4. Avoid swallowing any blood. Doing so may induce a gag reflex and also cause nausea in many individuals. When bleeding has stopped, you may very gently wipe blood away from nostrils, but again, avoid blowing your nose for several hours. When you do first attempt to blow your nose, do so very gently to prevent re-opening areas that have begun to heal.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember not to tilt the head backward when attempting to staunch bleeding.

• If bleeding is mild to moderate, perform self-treatment. However, seek the help of a medical facility as soon as possible if bleeding is severe and shows no signs of slowing down. Avoid talking while waiting for bleeding to slow, and breath slowly and evenly through the mouth.