Why nose bleeding can be serious?

A majority of people experience nosebleeds at least once in their lifetimes, whether from excessive picking of the nose or a pretty hard fall. Most nosebleeds go away soon but it can get very serious if you are not careful.

Nosebleeds can be broadly classified into two types:

1. Anterior nosebleeds, which happen from the front of the nose, are quite normal and get better quickly.

2. Posterior nosebleeds happen from deep within the nose and get very serious if proper care is not provided. However, such cases are rare and happen only in extreme trauma.

What to do when a nosebleed strikes?

- to stop the bleeding, tilt your head upwards and apply ice on the bridge of the nose. This helps in stopping the blood flow quickly. You can also stuff cotton in your nostrils while doing it.

- blow your nose in order to clear the clots in the nose as they can prolong bleeding.

When does a nosebleed get serious?

- when the measures to stop the bleeding don't work. You are at risk to lose blood if you don't get medical help.

- if you have regular nosebleeds then consult your doctor immediately as it could be a symptom of an underlying health condition.

- a nosebleed can also become serious if you are having medicines that thin blood as it could make the nosebleed more severe.

- if you suffer from a blood clotting disorder.

- if the nosebleed is a caused by a trauma like a fall or an accident and you are having difficulty in stopping the bleeding, get immediate medical help.

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Related Tip: Ways to Prevent and Stop Nose Bleeding

Why Nose Bleeding Can Be Serious?

A broken nose is any crack or fracture in the bony portion of the nose. This is usually a result of external trauma.


Nasal fractures are often cited as the most common type of facial fracture, accounting for approximately half of all facial fractures in several studies.


Broken Nose Causes:


Common sources of trauma include the following:


Sports injuries
Personal fights
Motor vehicle accidents
Falls
In children, nasal fractures are most commonly due to falls.




Broken Nose Symptoms:


Tenderness when touching the nose
Swelling of the nose or face
Bruised nose
Bruising under the eyes (black eye)
Deformity of the nose (crooked nose)
Nosebleed
Pain and difficulty breathing out of the nostrils 


Broken Nose - 7 Signs You are Suffering from it

There are various kinds of nosebleeds that can be caused by a variety of conditions. While some of them may not be too serious, one must never ignore heavy and persistent nosebleeds. These nosebleeds are usually of two kinds: anterior nosebleeds, and posterior nosebleeds. While 90% of all nosebleeds are anterior nosebleeds, the posterior nosebleeds are far less common and may be slightly more serious in nature. An anterior nosebleed is usually caused in the blood vessels that lie on the front portion of the nose and can be controlled easily. A posterior nosebleed usually comes from damage to an artery in the rear portion of the nose. Infection, trauma, allergic reactions and other such causes may be behind a nosebleed. Let us cast a glance on the tips to prevent nosebleeds.

Salt water and saline nose drops can be used in order to prevent nosebleeds. It is important to take these on a regular basis in case you are experiencing these nosebleeds on a regular basis. 
The use of painkillers like Aspirin and other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs must be limited. Sometimes, taking such medication too frequently may lead to nosebleeds. 
You would do well to control your blood pressure because hypertension and other forms of high blood pressure can also cause nosebleeds. Lifestyle changes like your diet and exercise can help in keeping a more stable blood pressure level so that you do not fall prey to frequent nosebleeds.
Humidify your home with a humidifier so that the air does not get too dry. Many times, this causes nosebleeds. Also, you may want to keep the heat down in the bedrooms. Many nosebleeds happen due to too warm temperatures while you are sleeping. 
Nose picking should also be discouraged as it can lead to nosebleeds in case there is a scratch or any other kind of damage when you try to force the dirt out. 
It has also been found that smoking has a connection with nosebleeds. This can be fixed if the patient quits smoking. 
One should not use nasal sprays without a prescription from a doctor. This also includes antihistamines, decongestants as well as other medicated sprays. These may not suit the patient at all times, and may also lead to nosebleeds. 
In the event of a nosebleed, you will need to lean forward with your head tilted backwards. This will stem the bleeding. If it is possible, you must also try and lie down immediately for a few minutes. 

Ways To Prevent Nosebleeds

A nose bleed can take place due to a number of reasons, which usually all boil down to acute dryness of the nasal passages. The nosebleed and dryness can stem from sinus, allergic reactions, constant blowing of the nose, infections, and also during very harsh winter months when there is no lubrication in the nose. Nose bleed can also occur due due to conditions, such as high blood pressure and when a foreign object gets stuck inside the nose. Here are a few tips on treating nosebleeds.


1. First step: the very first action when you experience a nose bleed should be to sit down. Once you are sitting, you should firmly pinch the spot that is soft. This lies just above the nostril. Do this for at least ten to fifteen minutes. The trick is to stay upright rather than lying down as this will bring down the blood pressure in the nasal blood vessels to stop further bleeding.


2. Breathe: breathe with your mouth as you lean forward to help in draining the blood into your nose, rather than out of it or towards the throat.


3. Ice compress: find a bag of frozen corn or peas in your freezer or an ice pack, and press this firmly against the nose to help in stemming the bleeding. As you are doing so, do not forget to cover the bridge of your nose with a towel so that it prevents you from catching a cold.


4. Medication and side effects: if you are on any kind of anticoagulants that end up thinning the blood, then you may immediately want to see your doctor about a possible side effects and a change in the medication. This could also be an effect of haemophilia where the bleeding does not stop.


5. Children: if a child who is under the age of two years suffers from such nosebleeds, then you will need to rush him or her to the doctor immediately as it could point at a more serious problem.


6. Anaemia: nose bleeds could also suggest the presence of anaemia, so you may want to see your doctor about lab tests to determine and possibly rule out this cause. You can also start medication accordingly for this kind of an ailment.


7. Nasal packing: the doctor can carry out this procedure with the help of gauze that can seal the spot where the bleeding is happening.


8. Cautery: this is a minor procedure that involves burning the blood vessel that is causing the persistent bleeding with a stick of silver nitrate. The stick will be inserted after local anaesthesia is administered to the patient.

You must see a doctor for severe and prolonged bleeding.

How to Treat a Nosebleed

Though nosebleeds are usually not a cause for serious concern, it can sometimes be a scary experience and cause a lot of anxiety. The nose is home to a lot of blood vessels and being fragile they bleed easily. Nosebleeds, however, can be a cause of concern if they happen regularly. While a few factors can be taken care of easily, there are a few rare cases that are actually alarming.

Injury or blow to the nose: Any injury or sudden blow may cause the nose to bleed. The severity of bleeding depends on the intensity and nature of blow/ injury.
Sinusitis: Bleeding is seen in a moderate number of cases of sinusitis. Not every person with sinusitis experiences nose bleeds though.
Hypertension/ high blood pressure: People, who have high blood pressure and one or more of other predisposing factors, might experience nosebleed in some cases. High blood pressure basically increases your chances of experiencing nosebleed.
Liver infection: This condition can be one of the rare causes of nosebleed.
Conditions hampering blood clot formation: There are certain medical conditions in which the blood clot formation does not take place effectively and thus the bleeding incidents can happen with minor causes as well.
Blood thinning medication: People having blood thinning medicines are more prone to experiencing an episode of nose bleed for obvious reasons.
Excessive scratching or sneezing: This might cause the nasal wall to rupture, causing minor bleeding.
Excessive alcohol consumption: In people who consume alcohol in an excessive amount, nose bleeding might occur as an after effect.
Blood cancer/ leukemia: In some cases of leukemia, the patient might experience nosebleed along with other complications.
While some causes can be self-cured at home, a few others need proper treatment from a medical practitioner.

You shouldn't ignore these 9 alarming causes of nose bleed!

Nosebleed is a condition wherein blood vessels burst in the nasal lining. Nosebleeds are fairly common and it is rarely a serious condition.
I. Anterior nosebleed:It is caused by the eruption of a blood vessel at the tip of the nose. Anterior nosebleeds are generally easy to control by yourself or by a doctor.
II. Posterior nosebleed: It is a rare type of nosebleed. Posterior nosebleed mostly occurs in older people. It occurs when an artery bursts behind the nose, which causes the blood to flow down the throat. Posterior nosebleeds are, thus, dangerous, and they need immediate medical attention.

Causes
1. There are numerous causes of nosebleeds. The most common cause of nosebleeds is dry air. Dry climates dehydrate the nasal membranes (internal nasal tissues). This dryness leads to crusting which can cause irritation or itching.
2. Also, if you pick or scratch your nose too much, it can start to bleed.
3. Decongestants for allergies, sinus infection or cold and antihistamines can make the nasal membranes dry and cause nosebleeds as well.

Some other causes of nosebleeds include
1. Some sort of foreign object stuck in the nasal cavity
2. Allergic reactions
3. Repeated sneezing
4. Nose injuries (For example, car accidents, a punch to the face, etc.)
5. Chemical irritants
6. Cold air
7. Respiratory infection
8. Consuming high doses of aspirin-high dosage thins the blood down, thus triggering nosebleeds

There are other rarer causes as well, such as:
1. High blood pressure
2. Bleeding disorder
3. Blood clotting problems
4. Cancer

Treatment
A nosebleed can easily be treated at home. While in a sitting position, close your nostril by squeezing the soft part of your nose. Hold your nose for ten minutes, then lean slightly forward. Inhale and exhale slowly using your mouth.
Never lie down when you are trying to stop a nosebleed, as you will end up swallowing the blood which can upset your stomach. Remove your hand from your nose after 10 minutes and check if the bleeding has stopped. If it has not, repeat the steps all over again.
However, consult a doctor if the bleeding does not stop or if there is a foreign object stuck in your nose.

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