Nosebleed

What Are Nosebleeds?

Nosebleeds are very common, especially in children. Most of the time, they're nothing to worry about and can be treated at home. The inside of your nose has many small blood vessels that can break easily, causing bleeding.

What Causes Nosebleeds?

The most common causes include:

• Picking your nose
• Blowing your nose too hard
• Dry air inside your nose (this can happen when the weather changes)
• A knock or injury to your nose

Some people get nosebleeds more often than others, including:

• Children
• Adults over 45
• Pregnant women
• People with high blood pressure

How to Stop a Nosebleed at Home

If you get a nosebleed:

1. Sit down and lean forward - keep your head tilted forward and mouth open
2. Pinch your nose just above your nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes
3. Breathe through your mouth while pinching your nose
4. You can hold an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel on top of your nose, but this may not help much

Don't tilt your head back - this can make you swallow blood and feel sick.

After Your Nosebleed Stops

For the next 24 hours, try not to:

• Blow your nose
• Pick your nose
• Drink hot drinks or alcohol
• Do heavy lifting or hard exercise
• Pick any scabs that form
• Lie down flat

When to Speak to Your GP

You should speak to your GP if:

• A child under 2 years old has had a nosebleed
• You get nosebleeds regularly
• You have signs of not having enough iron in your blood (feeling tired, heart beating fast, being out of breath, or skin looking paler than usual)
• You take medicines to stop blood clots (like warfarin) and get a nosebleed
• You have a condition that means your blood doesn't clot properly

Your GP might want to do some blood tests to check for different conditions.

When to Go to A&E Immediately

Call 999 or go to A&E straight away if you have a nosebleed and:

• The bleeding lasts longer than 10 to 15 minutes
• You're losing a lot of blood
• You're swallowing lots of blood and being sick
• The nosebleed started after a head injury
• You feel weak or dizzy
• You're having trouble breathing

Important: Don't drive yourself to A&E. Ask someone else to drive you or call 999 for an ambulance. Take any medicines you're taking with you.

Treatment at Hospital

If you need hospital treatment, doctors might:

• Use a special stick with chemicals to seal the bleeding area
• Pack your nose with special gauze or sponge to stop the bleeding
• Give you antiseptic cream to use inside your nose after the bleeding stops

You might need to stay in hospital for a day or two if the bleeding is severe.

Remember, most nosebleeds are not serious and will stop on their own with simple first aid. However, if you're worried or the bleeding won't stop, don't hesitate to seek medical help.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.