Nose bleeding is a common health issue found in both children and adults. Blood vessels lining your inner nose are very delicate and are easily affected by various causes.Nose bleeds can occur on account of allergies, severe cold or flu, chronic sinusitis, vitamin K deficiency, hypertension, dry nasal passages, nose picking or a sudden injury to your nose. A bleeding nose can be treated with the following home remedies.
Home Remedies To Stop Nose Bleeding
Adjust Your Posture
Keep your head elevated, above your heart. Do not lie down. Sit up straight and bend your head slightly forward. Tilting your head backwards may cause the blood to run down your throat. Breathe through your mouth when doing this.
Ice Pack
An ice pack stops a nose bleed very fast. It constricts the blood vessels and reduces inflammation in case of injury to the nose. Prepare an ice pack by packing some crushed ice into a zipper pouch and cover this with a towel. Place this over your nose and hold till the bleeding stops. You can also use a cold vegetable pouch directly from the refrigerator, for the purpose.
Nasal Spray Decongestants
To arrest nose bleeding, it is beneficial to use nasal spray decongestants like Afrin and Neo-synephrine which are available over the counter. These nasal sprays constrict nasal blood vessels and eliminate bleeding. Repeat usage if your nose stops bleeding and starts bleeding again after some time.
Nose Pinch
A time tested home remedy for stopping a nose bleed is to pinch your lower nose. Place your forefinger and thumb on either sides of your nose bridge. Pinch the soft lower part of your nose firmly for ten minutes. Do not release till ten minutes are over. Applying pressure decreases the flow of blood, finally stopping it. If the bleeding has slowed down but not stopped completely, apply pressure again for another 10 minutes.
Gauze Technique
Bundle up a small piece of gauze. Push it between your upper lip and gums right under your nose. Keep it there for 10 minutes. The gauze puts pressure on the blood vessels in your nose, constricting them and reducing the flow of blood.
Vinegar
Wet a piece of sterile gauze with some white vinegar. Place this in your nose for at least 5 to 7 minutes. The acid from vinegar will cauterize the inner area of the nose and will stop the bleeding.
Home Remedies To Prevent Nose Bleeding
For those prone to frequent nose bleeds, here are a few home remedies to prevent nose bleeding.
Vitamins And Bioflavonoid Supplements
Bioflavonoids and vitamin C strengthen blood capillaries, preventing them from rupturing easily. Take 5 gm of each, twice a day for a month to prevent frequent nose bleeds. Vitamin K helps blood to clot more efficiently. Consume vitamin K supplements once daily for one month.
Avoid Air-Conditioning
For those suffering from nose bleeds due to dryness of the nasal passage, avoid air-conditioning. This strips off moisture from the air, drying your nasal passages and making you more prone to a bleeding nose.
Moisturize Your Nasal Passages
Apply a bit of petroleum jelly inside your nose, to keep it moist. You can even use a saline nasal spray to moisturize your nostrils. Do this often in cold and dry climate or if you are about to board a flight. Use room humidifiers in winters to add moisture to the air inside your rooms. This will keep your dry nasal passages moist and prevent nose bleeds.
Drink Water
Keep your body hydrated by drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. This helps in keeping the mucous membranes of your nasal passages moist, avoiding nose bleeds.
Treat Allergies Immediately
Nasal allergies must be treated promptly. Irritation caused by allergens and constant blowing of the nose weaken the nasal membranes. This can trigger a nose bleed.
Things To Avoid
If your suffer from nose bleeds, avoid smoking. Cigarette smoke irritates the delicate lining inside your nose and may cause further bleeding. Avoid picking your nose very often. This can cause injury to the inner area of your nose. Avoid taking blood thinning medications like aspirin. These interfere with blood clotting. Consult your doctor in such cases. He may adjust your medication dosage.
In spite of following these home remedies, in case your nose does not stop bleeding well after 20 minutes, consult emergency care. Also, if your nose bleeds very often, up to three or four times a week, it can signal hypertension. Get prompt medical attention if this is the case.
