As summer is approaching, so is warm weather and dry air; which is the most common time for nosebleeds to occur. Nosebleeds happen when a blood vessel in the nose’s soft cartilage leaks. Allergies, the common cold, nasal sprays, and drug use are only a few possible causes. Everyone is easily a victim to nosebleeds, especially little kids due to the excessive nose picking. Different individuals have different methods in stopping the bleeding, but here are some reliable and secure ways to properly stop a nosebleed.
Once the bleeding starts, nod your head forward immediately. According to Mayo Clinic, this prevents the blood from going down the back of your throat and reduces the blood pressure in the veins of your nose. Then place your thumb on one side of your nose and your forefinger on the other side, up near the bridge. And then slowly slide them down to the sudden “drop off”, where the bones give way to cartilage. Pinch your thumb and forefinger together and hold. You should pinch with enough pressure to press both sides of your nose firmly against the septum for at least five minutes. The bleeding should slow or stop, but if not, then start over and pinch either lower or higher than before.
To prevent rebleeding, avoid picking or blowing your nose for several hours. If rebleeding occurs, blow your nose forcefully to clear your nose of blood clots and spray both sides of your nose with a decongestant nasal spray containing oxymetazoline, a topical decongestant. Some other ways to prevent nosebleeds is keeping the inside of your nose moist, by using petroleum jelly, antibiotic ointment, or a saline nasal product, using a humidifier, not smoking or picking your nose, and not using cold or allergy medications to often.
Nosebleeds are more common in some people compared to others, but everyone can be victim to this unfortunate bodily malfunction. Just in case this happens to you in the future, follow these steps to help stop it. And take the advice on how to prevent further bleeding and future possible nosebleeds. It could happen at any time, so take these steps into consideration and prepare yourself for the next possible occurrence.
By: Claire Imazu
beniciapaw.com 