Nose Bleed Remedy

No one likes a bleeding nose. Apart from being messy, a nose bleed can be painful and embarrassing, last for long periods of time or return regularly if not treated correctly. There are a number of suggestions on how to treat a nose bleed, but perhaps more important that treating them is avoiding them altogether.

Remedies

• Generally, the first reaction of someone who realizes they have a bleeding nose is to tilt the head back to keep blood from issuing forth. This and other knee-jerk reactions to nose bleeds can be a mistake.

  Sitting down and tilting the head slightly forward keeps blood from running down the throat, which can cause choking and make matters worse overall. Also, lying down is not such a great idea since the best way to slow down blood flow is to keep the bleeding appendage above the heart.

  Pinch all soft parts of the nose together and towards your face to stop blood flow and help broken blood vessels to close up. Breathe regularly through the mouth since too little oxygen, while normally not good, is dangerous in a nose bleed situation.

  Pressure on the back of the neck can slow blood flow to the nose, so a towel or ice pack pressed against the neck can go a long way to stop blood flowing from the nose.

  Just under the nose and above the lip lies a blood vessel that can contribute to a bleeding nose. For this reason, placing a finger rolled up gauze or other material between the upper lip and gums can also help stop the blood flow.

After the Blood

• Once the blood has stopped flowing, apply antibiotic ointment to the insides of the nostrils with a cotton swab to begin the healing process and keep the nose moist to help prevent further bleeding.

  Head home if not already there and rest, but be sure to keep the head elevated 30 to 45 degrees to keep your nose somewhat above the heart. (Remember, do this only after the bleeding has stopped.)

  Do not blow your nose for at least 24 hours after the bleeding stops since doing so can dislodge clotted blood that is most likely holding back further flow. These clots eventually act as scabs helping to heal the broken skin or membrane that the blood came through.

  Do not smoke after a nose bleed. The chemicals found in cigarette smoke can irritate the nasal passageways.

  Finally, avoid blood-thinning medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen. If these medicines are suggested of prescribed by a doctor, consult him before stopping use.

Active Prevention of Further Nose Bleeds

• Nose bleeds can be caused by a number of factors, such as lack of humidity, a physical blow to the face, or a severe cold. Staying away from situations where the nose could be hit forcefully and practicing proper hygiene to prevent colds are obvious ways to prevent a bleeding nose, but controlling humidity is not quite as easy depending on where a person lives.

  Inside the house, keep the temperature low and use a humidifier in the room where you sleep if you live in a dry climate. Regular showers or a saline solution nose spray can also keep the nostrils moist.

  Regardless of where you live, consumption of citrus fruits can also help prevent nosebleeds since they are rich in bioflavonoids, which strengthen blood vessels.

Warnings

• Nose bleeds can sometimes be a symptom of a more serious health condition. Contact your doctor or call 911 if blood flows heavily from both nostrils, the bleeding won't stop after 30 minutes of pressure, the blood runs down your throat even when your head is tilted forward and the nose is pinched, or if you experience nose bleeds on a regular basis (several times during the day for several times in a row).