Q: Why Do Noses Bleed?
A: The nose has many blood vessels close to the inside surface. They’re fragile and consequently bleed easily if they get injured or too dried out.
Colds, allergies and dry weather can all make your nose bleed more easily. Common sense might then also tell you that putting things in your nose or picking at it can cause bleeding. So, to all the pickers, I say, “go easy.”
Believe it or not, high blood pressure can make you more prone to nosebleeds. So can infections.
But the truth is, often nosebleeds have no obvious cause.
Interestingly enough:
Nosebleeds are usually painless.
Usually the bleeding is from one nostril only.
Tips:
Want a quick (and my personal favorite) way to stop the common nosebleed? Click here.
Try hard not to swallow the blood. This can upset your stomach, which can cause you to vomit. Naturally, that vomit may contain the blood you just swallowed. Don’t be surprised.
Don’t rub your nose for 24 hours after you’ve stopped a nosebleed.
Don’t strongly blow your nose for a few days after a nosebleed.
Don’t suppress a sneeze either. Just let it all blow through your nose and mouth.
Avoid alcohol and hot drinks for 24 hours after a nosebleed.
Want to impress your friends? Drop the word “epistaxis” the next time you see a nosebleed and see if you don’t sound intelligent.
Did You Know?
There are times when a nosebleed can be very serious or even life-threatening. See my post about that here. In the event that you suspect you might be having a serious or unstoppable nosebleed, please go to the emergency room. If I’m on call, I’ll see you soon. And if you’re having frequent episodes of bleeding, give me a call and we can get you set up with a clinic visit. I can stop that from happening too. To make an appointment call (817) 261-3000.