Nosebleeds: Causes, Prevention, and TreatmentNosebleeds: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment Nosebleeds can be a frightening experience, but medical experts generally consider them to be non-serious. Over 50% of the population experiences a nosebleed at some point in their life. Causes of Nosebleeds * In children: Nose picking irritates the nasal cavity. * In adults: Dry nasal cavities can lead to a thin mucous membrane over blood vessels. * Deviated nasal septum: Off-centered nasal septum wall causes turbulent airflow that dries out the nose. * Trauma or injury: Injuries to the face can lead to nosebleeds. * Medical problems: Hypertension, blood thinners, and bleeding/clotting disorders can trigger nosebleeds. Environmental Factors * Dry indoor air, especially in winter, can cause nosebleeds. Prevention * Avoid dry indoor air by using a humidifier. * Stay hydrated and keep the nasal cavity moist. * Avoid nose picking and smoking. Treatment Self-Treatment * Hold pressure: Apply firm pressure to the soft part of the nose for 10-15 minutes. Seeking Medical Attention * Persistent, heavy, or frequent nosebleeds. * Symptoms such as dizziness or nausea. * Medical conditions that can trigger nosebleeds. Medical Treatment * Nasal endoscopy to identify the bleeding source. * Surgery to cut off the blood supply to certain parts of the nose. Additional Information * If nosebleeds occur frequently or take a long time to stop, consult an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.
A nosebleed can be a shocking and somewhat frightening experience, but medical experts say that the condition is generally not serious.
“Nosebleeds are quite common and affect more than half the population at some point,” David A. Gudis, MD, chief of the anterior cranial base division of rhinology and surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, told Fox News Digital.
“Most nosebleeds are not serious medical emergenciesbut they can be alarming and sometimes quite dangerous.”
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The lining of the nasal cavity (the “mucosa”) has a very robust blood supply, and several causes can lead to bleeding from this area, Gudis says.
“In children, the front of the nasal cavity is susceptible to irritation from what everyone does: nose picking,” he said.
In adults, this part of the nose can become dry, causing the mucous membrane over the blood vessels to thin.
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Another cause, Gudis says, can be a deviated nasal septum. This happens when the wall that separates the left and right sides of the nose is off-center or crooked.
“This can cause the airflow in the nose to become more turbulent, which can further dry out the front of the nose,” the doctor said.
Trauma or injury Nosebleeds can also result from injuries to the nose, such as being hit in the face with a ball or an accident of any kind, he added.
Medical problems can also be a possible trigger.
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“This may include uncontrolled hypertension (high bloodpressure), anticoagulants (blood thinners), and bleeding/clotting disorders,” Gudis told Fox News Digital.
In addition to these reasons, a person’s environment can also be the culprit.
A common cause of nosebleeds is dry indoor airsays Natasha Bhuyan, a family physician at One Medical in Phoenix, Arizona.
“We see this especially in the winter,” she told Fox News Digital.
One way to prevent this is to use a humidifier.
Experts advise to limit the occurrence of infections by drinking enough fluids and keeping the nasal cavity moist.
“Also avoid picking your nose – and of course people should avoid picking their nose too. smoking tobacco“, Bhuyan added.
According to Gudis, ‘holding pressure’ is a simple and very effective solution for most nosebleeds.
“The key is to apply pressure to the point where the nose softens, to pinch it closed,” he said.
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Often people do not know what the best protocol is to stop a nosebleed.
“Many people are incorrectly instructed to pinch the ‘bridge’ of the nose, but pinching the hard nasal bones does not apply pressure to the actual source of the bleeding,” Gudis noted.
If the bleeding is persistent, heavy and does not stop, or if you develop other symptoms such as dizziness or nausea, it is best to seek medical attention. medical attention “You should do that right away,” Gudis advised.
If nosebleeds occur frequently or take a long time to stop, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention from an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, he said.
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“In the office, we can use small nasal endoscopes to identify the source of the bleeding,” Gudis told Fox News Digital.
In some cases, he said, patients have surgery needed to cut off the blood supply to certain parts of the nose.
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