PLEASE NOTE: This post is a bit graphic and gruesome with talk of blood and the bleeding there of. If you have a weak stomach, perhaps skip this post and ease your attention with one of my other recent posts at Scott Schroeder Says.
Not that a definition is necessary but, for informative purposes… a nosebleed, scientifically named epistaxis, is commonly referred to as hemorrhage (i.e. bleeding) from the nose whereby a blood vessel is ruptured, causing blood to drain out of the nose. Chronic (calm down Dr Dre, I’m not talking about that west coast funk 
) nosebleeds, called so because of their recurrent and/or long lasting characteristics, are different from a one-time type nosebleed that results from a hard hit to the nose, per say. If you or anyone you know have ever experienced a nose bleed, you understand the inconvenience and discomfort associated with nosebleeds and you can certainly imagine the hassle of having chronic/recurring nosebleeds.
I, personally, grew up with nosebleeds and often used to wake to a pillow spotted with blood prior to racing for a sheet of toilet paper to clog my nose with. I even had my nose cauterized when I was a young lad to help alleviate some of the bleeding. This helped a bit but I still received nosebleeds from time to time, especially when I would blow my nose (too hard). With the terminology along with the basics covered, let’s fast forward to last week, the week of October 6-12 2008 where I starting having frequent nosebleeds that lasted longer than usual, made me bleed a lot more than usual and, hence, made me think of publishing this here article so as to try and offer some relief for anyone searching for nosebleed related content.
That being said, please find below some common causes (i.e. reasons for nose bleeds), common treatments (i.e. ways to stop a nosebleed) and some common preventatives (i.e. tactics used to reduce the amount of future nosebleeds) associated with nosebleeds. Please keep in mind, these lists are not complete nor do they cover all options - if you have some additional information, please do pass it along for us all. In addition, I am not a doctor nor do I claim to have all the answers. Furthermore, if your nosebleed appears to be serious and/or life threatening, please “hang-up” here and dial 911 immediately.
Common Causes of Chronic Nosebleeds
- Picking of Nose
- Lack of Humidity/Dry Climate (in area where breathing occurs)
- Cold Weather
- Hard Hit to the Face/Nose
- Allergies
- Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)
- Hypertension/High Blood Pressure
- Alcohol Consumption (which thins the blood and also causes vasodilation/widening of blood vessels)
- Use of Narcotics (through the nose, specifically cocaine)
- Prolonged and/or Improper Use of Nasal Sprays
- Pregnancy
- Heart Failure
Common Treatments of Chronic Nosebleeds
- Stay Calm - I know this may not be easy to do because I tend to get really frustrated when I get nosebleeds but, this is horrible as getting mad/frustrated raises your blood pressure and hence, causing you to bleed more
- Stuff Nose with Cotton or Toilet Paper (be gentle and cautious so as to not make it worse)
- Sit Down Normally (contrary to the belief of some, do NOT lean back as blood will drop down the esophagus and into the stomach which may cause nausea and vomiting - also, do NOT lean over toilet or sink as this will cause more pressure to be applied and may also cause nausea from site of excess blood rushing)
- Apply a Cold Compass to Face (ice pack, cold towel, etc around the nose area as this cold temperature will help to increase blood clotting and, hence, stop the blood from running down your nose)
- Pinch Nose and Hold for Approximately 5-10 Minutes (don’t pinch too high as this may cause more damage to the blood vessels - pinch just above nostril opening to help the blood to clot/coagulate)
- Apply Leaves of Yarrow Plant Into Nose (Yarrow is an herb whose leaves are believed to induce clotting)
*To Note: Once bleeding has stopped, it is advised to (gently) rub a q-tip with an antibiotic ointment/gel inside the nose so as to better help heal the wound
Common Preventatives of Chronic Nosebleeds
- Schedule an Appointment with an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Doctor to Discuss Options (commonly found under ENT/Otolaryngology specialties)
- Have Nose Cauterized
- Smoking Dries Out the Nasal Passages (and irritates them so consider stopping if nosebleeds are a serious issue for you)
- Consume Ample Amounts of Vitamin K (Vitamin K is known for its clotting factors so this will help to keep body ready to clot - some common foods rich in Vitamin K are carrots, spinach, cabbage, alfalfa sprouts, yogurt etc)
- Consume Ample Amounts of Vitamin C (Vitamin C is important in maintaining good capillary health - citrus fruits are known to be rich in Vitamin C)
- Reduce Aspirin Intake (if you take aspirin for pain, you should consider reducing the amount you take, especially during nosebleed “outbreaks” as some of the chemicals in aspirin are known to thin the blood and, hence, reduce blood clotting)
- Try to Keep Nose Moist (nasal drops and or ointments can be applied/swabbed into nose especially during cold and dry times so as to help keep nose from bleeding)
- Keep Enough Moisture In Living/Working Spaces (again, dry conditions have been known to promote nosebleeds so try, perhaps, investing in a humidifier or, go with an alternative method like having plants that take a lot of water (i.e. bamboo plants) or even as simple as hanging a wet towel or placing a water bowl around the area - please keep in mind, these alternative methods that require water to be present should have a frequent changing of said water so as to eliminate stagnant water and the bacteria associated with it)
- Consider Methods for Reducing Blood Pressure/Hypertension (if in fact you do suffer from high blood pressure/hypertension)
- Refrain from Using Narcotics (specifically cocaine)
- Dig Less (nose picking often cause nosebleeds so consider thwarting those nose picking efforts)
{ 0 comments… add one now }