Nosebleeds are an unfortunate commonality of life and can happen to anyone at any time.

However, they’re usually not a signifier of an underlying health issue and can mostly be stopped through basic at home first aid.

Tips to stop a nosebleed

• Breathe through your mouth while your nostrils are pinched

• Spit out any blood that comes into your mouth

• Avoid repeatedly checking whether bleeding has stopped as the blood needs time to clot

• If a child has a nosebleed, do your best to calm them. Crying will exacerbate the bleeding

• Avoid blowing your nose once bleeding has ceased, otherwise it may bleed again

• The influence of a cold pack over your forehead or the bridge of your nose may help

• Loosen any tight clothing around the neck area

Nosebleeds should be readily treated with the basic home first aid remedies outlined, so if bleeding continues it is advisable to visit your nearest emergency department for a medical assessment.

Visiting the doctor

For rare cases of severe nosebleeds, doctors may administer a number of methods to assist in stopping bleeding. One of the most common methods is to have your nose ‘packed’ with a special device or gauze. If the doctor has packed your nose with gauze or special device, have it taken out again by a doctor after it has remained in place for an appropriate period of time.

What causes a nosebleed?

Nosebleeds occur when a blood vessel in the nose lining bursts. As these vessels are fragile and burst easily, nosebleeds are not often cause for great concern. Nosebleeds are twice as common amongst children, who tend to often only bleed from one side of the nostrils.

They can be caused by a number of different things in addition to fragile blood vessels. Some of the other most common reasons for their occurrence are listed below:

• Falls

• Colds, allergies or hay fever

• Nose-picking

• An object inserted into the nostril

• Medication

Nosebleeds often present themselves as inconvenient and unwelcome blights on our day, but are rarely a sign of major underlying health issues. However, it is important to take still monitor the regularity with which they may occur and to get in touch with your nearest emergency department or doctor if your nosebleed won’t stop.

Epworth HealthCare provides emergency department services in Geelong (8am – 10pm, seven days) and Richmond (24/7).