Nose bleeds are quite
common. The majority of nose bleeds are idiopathic; that is to say we do not
know the cause. But that is alright as long as the cause has been sought for,
and importantcauses excluded.
The majority of nose bleeds
occur in the front of the nose called the septum and turbinates. There are a
variety of reasons for nose bleeds:
Nose picking habit
l
Nasal
allergy that increases the inflammation of the nose
l
Distorted
nasal anatomy like a deviated nasal septum
l
Surgery
or major trauma to the nose
l
Tumors
and growths (these do not generally cause frank nose bleeds but rather
blood-stained nasal discharge)
l
Blood
thinning medication usually taken for stroke prevention and hypertension
Nose bleeds are more common
in extreme weather conditions and during rapid weather changes especially when
the air gets both colder and drier quickly.
Trivia: Why does cold and
drier air makes the nose to bleed more?
How to stop a nose bleed?
Lean forward, open the
mouth to breathe and apply firm pressure to the soft lower third of the nose
(essentially squeeze the bottom half of the nose together so you cannot breathe
through the nose at all). By doing this, you are applying firm pressure to
Little’s area (the area where the little finger can touch inside the nose and
where Keisselbach’s plexus of blood vessels confluence) and where the majority
of nose bleeds occur.
Trivia: Why is Little’s
area named as such?
By tipping your head
forward and down by at least 20 degrees, blood will not run back down to the
throat and make you cough and splutter. Also you will be fully aware of any
continuing bleeding and the amount of blood loss.
Trivia: What anatomical
reason requires us to tip the head forward by 20 degrees? Why not just sit
straight?
Hold this for 20 minutes
(normal blood will coagulate after 5 minutes and holding longer gives it a
margin of security). If available, suck an ice cube as well.
Trivia: How does sucking
ice help?
If you are taking
blood-thinning drugs like Warfarin, Aspirin, Plavix, Pradaxa, etc., you will
need to continue pressing for longer.
If the bleeding persists, especially down the back of the throat, then the bleeding area is most likely at the back of the nose. In this case, an Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist or hospital care should be sought immediately, as the bleeding is less likely to be controlled by your own applied pressure in the front, and may recur later. Bleeding from the back of the nose also tends to be more profuse as the bleeding points are nearer the feeding arteries with a higher pressure.
After the bleeding has been arrested, an endoscopic nasal inspection would be advised especially if this has been a recurrent event.
If the bleeding persists, especially down the back of the throat, then the bleeding area is most likely at the back of the nose. In this case, an Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist or hospital care should be sought immediately, as the bleeding is less likely to be controlled by your own applied pressure in the front, and may recur later. Bleeding from the back of the nose also tends to be more profuse as the bleeding points are nearer the feeding arteries with a higher pressure.
After the bleeding has been arrested, an endoscopic nasal inspection would be advised especially if this has been a recurrent event.
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Reference: www.entific.com.hk/
The
information aims to provide educational purpose only. Anyone reading it should
consult ENT Specialists before considering treatment and should not rely
on the information above.
