Usually nosebleeds look worse than they actually are. Even a few drops of blood from the nose can soak several handkerchiefs. Causes of nosebleeds can include nasal bruising, nose picking (especially in young children, objects stuck in the nose), or side effects of blood-thinning medications (such as ASA).
What helps against nosebleeds?
First-aid measures for nosebleeds. Click to enlarge. In general, nosebleeds rarely occur if the nasal mucous membranes are sufficiently moistened. Important for this is a sufficient supply of at least 2 liters of fluid per day. Especially in the cold season, the air in the room should not be too dry due to the heating; under certain circumstances, a room humidifier or an evaporator can be helpful. The use of saline nasal spray can also help to moisten the nasal mucosa. The so-called saline solution can be prepared very easily by yourself with one teaspoon of salt to 500 ml of boiled water. If the nosebleed is over, coughing, sneezing or even blowing the nose should be avoided as much as possible, at least for a short time, otherwise the bleeding can start again due to the dissolution of a blood clot.
Quick help
As a quick help for nosebleeds, ice packs can be placed in the neck or witch hazel compresses can be held on the bleeding nostril. The cooling effect slows down the blood flow due to the contracting blood vessels. Actually, the simplest remedy for nosebleeds is squeezing the nose for about 10 minutes in a bent-forward position. If this also does not help against the nosebleed, some gauze can be stuffed into the nostril. Again, the nose should continue to be squeezed shut. The gauze should then remain in the nose for about 2 hours, even if the nosebleed has already passed. If even then the bleeding does not stop, a visit to the doctor is recommended. The doctor will then treat the blood vessel professionally and usually cauterize it. In addition to prescription as well as over-the-counter medications, there are also home remedies that work well against nosebleeds. For example, lemon juice and/or lavender oil can be dripped onto a cotton ball or a piece of paper tissue and put into the nostril. Vitamin C is also a proven home remedy and serves to strengthen the walls of blood vessels. In addition, a component of collagen, which ensures a moist mucous membrane of the nose. Vitamin C is contained, among other things, in oranges, kiwis or even grapefruit, as well as in various vegetables. Furthermore, preparations with flavonoid, which have a vascular sealing effect, are also available in pharmacies. If people suffer from frequent and also causeless nosebleeds, very severe nosebleeds, high blood pressure, kidney disease, blood coagulation disorders or arteriosclerosis, a doctor should be consulted urgently if the nosebleed lasts longer than 10 minutes. If nosebleeds occur after a blow to the head and are also watery, a doctor should definitely be consulted, as watery blood may also indicate cerebrospinal fluid. Patients suffering from Osler’s disease should also be careful with nosebleeds. Osler’s disease is a vasodilatation in the nose, lungs or even brain that is genetically caused. A cotton ball soaked in lavender oil provides quick relief. The same preventive measures apply to these sufferers as well, such as keeping the nasal mucosa moist or also eating a healthy diet with plenty of vitamin C. Sclerotherapy of the vessels can also be a solution to the problem of “nosebleeds” in patients with Osler’s disease. It is observed that especially older people increasingly suffer from nosebleeds. This is mainly due to the fact that with increasing age the vessels become more fragile. Here, examination by an internist may be indicated to address the problem of nosebleeds.
Outdated home remedies
In general, the rule for nosebleeds is: Keep calm and do not rest your head on the back of your neck. In the past, this was often a proven home remedy. Meanwhile, it has been found that the bleeding increases in the supine position, as well as when the head is laid back in the neck. In addition, blood often runs down to the throat, which is harmless but usually unpleasant and may also lead to nausea combined with vomiting.
