Nose Bleed Tips

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.

1. Liver infection: This condition can be one of the rare causes of nosebleed.
2. 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.
3. Blood thinning medication: People having blood thinning medicines are more prone to experiencing an episode of nose bleed for obvious reasons.
4. Excessive scratching or sneezing: This might cause the nasal wall to rupture, causing minor bleeding.
5. Excessive alcohol consumption: In people who consume alcohol in an excessive amount, nose bleeding might occur as an after effect.
6. Blood cancer/ leukemia: In some cases of leukemia, the patient might experience nosebleed along with other complications.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

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.

1. 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.
2. Sinusitis: Bleeding is seen in a moderate number of cases of sinusitis. Not every person with sinusitis experiences nose bleeds though.
3. 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.
4. Liver infection: This condition can be one of the rare causes of nosebleed.
5. 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.
6. Blood thinning medication: People having blood thinning medicines are more prone to experiencing an episode of nose bleed for obvious reasons.
7. Excessive scratching or sneezing: This might cause the nasal wall to rupture, causing minor bleeding.
8. Excessive alcohol consumption: In people who consume alcohol in an excessive amount, nose bleeding might occur as an after effect.
9. 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.

A nose surgery (rhinoplasty) is performed to alter the structure and shape of your nose and improve its function and or appearance. Here are a few things you should know about nose surgeries: 

1. Consult your doctor: Before deciding on undergoing a nose surgery, speak with your doctor regarding issues with your nose. Your doctor will check your problems and judge whether or not surgery is a feasible option. It is only with your doctor's confirmation that you should go for the surgery.
2. Procedure:
   • The surgery is done either with local anesthesia (your nose and surrounding areas will be numbed) or general anesthesia (you will fall asleep).
   • The surgeon will make incisions in your nostrils and base of the nose and alter the shape, structure and position of the cartilages in your nose for appealing shape and better functionality. Polyp removal is also done by rhinoplasty.
3. Recovery after the surgery: You will be required to wear a nose splint. You can expect swelling around the eyes, which will begin to subside after the third day. Swelling in the nose will go away after six months. Therefore, do not expect to see your results immediately, final condition of your nose will be apparent after the recovery period is over. You should avoid strenuous activity for 3 to 6 weeks. Do not smoke or drink alcohol during recovery. Smoking slows recovery time and alcohol reduces normal effects of drugs.

Type of rhinoplasty you can opt for

1. Closed rhinoplasty: Incisions are made inside the nostrils and hence there is no scarring.
2. Open rhinoplasty: An additional cut is made along the columella and this may result in scarring. However, the position of the scar is such that it is almost unnoticeable.

Risks associated with it 

Any surgical procedure has certain risks. These risks associated with nose surgery include:

1. Infection
2. Adverse effect to anesthesia
3. Unfavorable outcomes
4. Visible scarring
5. Numbness
6. Difficulty breathing
7. Chronic nosebleeds
8. A perforated septum
9. Hematoma
10. Burst blood vessels
11. Nervous damage
12. Possibility of revision surgery

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Nosebleed is a condition wherein blood vessels burst in the nasal lining. Nosebleeds are fairly common and it is rarely a serious condition.

1. 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.
2. 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.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

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.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

It is very important to know about nasal bleeding control at home.
First and foremost important step not to panic and just pinch your nostril between your thumb and index finger for abt a min or 2 min.
The second step to apply some soframycin or neosporin ointment n after that put some cotton plugs on each nostril.

Commonly referred to as nasal concha, nasal turbinates are an important structure of the nose, which is responsible for preventing the outside dust, dirt, and various other particles from entering the lungs. When these bony and spongy structures are irritated due to irritants, they become enlarged or inflamed, blocking the nasal airways, resulting in breathing difficulty called turbinate hypertrophy.

A closer look at turbinate hypertrophy
Characterized by chronic enlargement or swelling of the nasal turbinates, turbinate hypertrophy is a condition where swelled turbinates lead to serious nasal congestion, causing difficulty in breathing. Though occasional swelling and shrinking of the turbinates and the sensitive blood vessels on its mucosal membrane are normal, when this happens on a chronic basis, it requires medical attention.

Typically, such swelling happens to be temporary and resolves automatically without having to take any medications for it. However, sometimes swelling of the turbinates stays for long, giving rise conditions like turbinate hypertrophy.

Causes
Turbinate hypertrophy can be caused due to various factors, such as allergies, septum deviation, various environmental irritants, etc. While an immunological response that is triggered by the allergies leads to the swelling of these spongy parts inside the nose, irritants like cigarette smoke can also lead to the turbinates' inflammation. Sometimes when the deviation of the septum is severe, it also may result in the development of abnormal enlargement of the turbinates. Chemical irritants, hormonal changes, changes in the temperature can also cause turbinate hypertrophy.

Symptoms
Some of the very common symptoms of turbinate hypertrophy are persistent nasal blockage or congestions, recurring sinusitis or sinus infections, moderate to severe difficulty in breathing on both or one side of the nose. Frequent nosebleeds and snoring are also considered to be some of its other symptoms.

Available Treatment Options
When it comes to treating turbinate hypertrophy, there are various treatment options available, both surgical and non-surgical. While the allergy medications, various nasal sprays help in controlling the swelling of the turbinates, avoiding environmental irritants can help in preventing turbinate hypertrophy. Then there are the different surgical methods, such as rhinoplasty, septoplasty, that can help in offering a longer cure to such nasal breathing problems. However, it is only based on the root cause behind the turbinate hypertrophy and the condition of the patient that the ideal treatment can be determined by an ENT specialist.

When you suffer from obstruction in the nasal airway, it is advised to contact an ENT specialist to find the actual cause behind it and obtaining necessary treatments. Because, when it comes to breathing, ignoring any issues with it can lead to a deteriorated nasal problem in the long run.

In our nose, there are three pairs of turbinates which originate on the lateral walls of our nasal cavity. When the lowest pair of the turbinates or the inferior turbinates is enlarged due to allergies or some other condition, it results in nasal blockage causing breathing difficulty. If the inferior turbinates are reduced in size by turbinate reduction, it helps to improve the obstruction of the nose as it creates more space for inhaling air or breathing through the nose.

This can be done with a number of techniques. The most common method used is the submucous resection and also radio-frequency reduction. While in the operating room, these two procedures are often combined with a procedure known as outfracture. In this process, the inferior turbinates are pushed to the sides of the nose by which space for breathing opens up a little more. It is done by breaking the small thin bone which is inside the turbinate itself.

An insight into the different types of procedures for turbinate reduction:
The submucous resection of the inferior turbinates is done in the operation theatre under general anesthesia. In this procedure, a small cut is made in the lining of the inferior turbinates. Then the lining is lifted off the thin bone which forms the main structural support for the inferior turbinate. After removing the part of this bone and after the healing process which includes shrinking of the lining of the turbinate, the size of the nasal passage increases and creates more breathing space providing long term relief.

The radiofrequency turbinate reduction is performed in a chamber without any anesthesia. A specially designed probe with a needle is used which is placed in the turbinate and radio-frequency energy is transferred in order to heat up the tissues under the surface in a controlled way. The heating of the tissues creates damage, and the size of the inferior turbinates is reduced during the healing process. The whole procedure takes around 10 minutes. The risks of this procedure are comparatively low with little or no pain during the phase of healing. Sometimes one single session is not effective, and many patients require more than one session.

Risks of turbinate reduction:
The most common risk of turbinate reduction is nose bleeding. As the inferior turbinates have an excellent supply of blood, there is a chance of nose bleeding after the surgery. Another risk of turbinate reduction is the dryness of nose which is temporary, but in some case, it can be permanent. Also, any kind of surgery inside the nose can cause changes in the sense of smell. The sense of smell generally returns, but in some cases, it can also be long lasting.

Your doctor will be able to advise on the line of treatment best for your condition.

A nosebleed also called epistaxis medically is normally not dangerous, but if you are old nosebleeds come with a number of risks. Treating a bloody nose incorrectly can only make it more dangerous, because of prolonged bleeding. Before we explain the ways to stop nosebleeds, let’s take a look at its causes:

Nosebleeds usually start from just inside the entrance of the nostril. But, why? Because the blood vessels here are quite fragile and are also prone to rupture easily. This is the reason why children suffer from nosebleeds so easily. Other common reasons are

1. A blocked nose due to colds
2. Picking one's nose roughly
3. Blowing one's nose
4. Injuries
5. Use of cocaine

A nosebleed usually lasts for about 10-20 minutes and is usually easy to treat. But in some conditions, this bleeding can be profuse and last longer like in cases of 

1. Heart failure
2. Blood clotting disorders
3. Due to 'blood thinning' medicines
4. Hypertension

Bleeding can sometimes also happen in areas further back in the nose due mostly to injuries and disorders of the nose.

Treatment
Usually, nosebleeds can be stopped using simple first aid.

1. Sitting up straight helps, especially along with tipping your head forward. It is vital that you don’t tip your head backwards as this can allow the blood to go down your throat and cause vomiting. And this can make your nosebleed worse. So, take care to spit out the blood in your mouth and not to swallow it.
2. To stop a nosebleed, pinch the soft, cartilaginous part of your nose using your thumb and forefinger. Spraying your nose with a medicated nasal spray before pinching it can help the bleeding to stop faster. Apply pressure for 10 minutes to get results. Check if your nosebleed has stopped after 10 minutes if it’s not; apply pressure for another 10 minutes. Nosebleeds usually stop after 10 to 20 minutes of pressure.
3. Use an ice pack to your nose and cheeks. This will constrict the blood vessels in the nose and stop the nosebleed.
4. Use a saline- or water-based nasal gel inside your nose to stop bleeding.
5. Remember not to blow your nose or insert anything into your nose for at least 12 hours after your nosebleed is over.
6. If the bleeding doesn’t stop even after 20 minutes of applying direct pressure, it’s prudent to rush to a doctor. He will treat your nose to stop the bleeding.
7. In a few rare cases, the bleeding is so severe that a blood transfusion is needed, and surgery may be needed to stop it.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Having a foreign object stuck inside a child’s ear or nose is an issue many parents encounter, especially while their child is a toddler. At the early developmental stages, it’s natural for children to be curious and attempt such things. It is also quite common for children as well as adults to get insects caught inside their nose or ear. In situations such as this, it’s best not to worry, as people tend to aggravate the situation when they panic.
The first thing you should try if you have any foreign object stuck inside your nose is to blow your nose. Be careful not to push too hard so as to not risk injury. Often children will be able to expel foreign objects from their nose only when asked to blow their nose.

If the foreign object in question is not stuck up the nose, but up the ear, or if blowing your nose has not helped, you should try and remove the object with a pair of clean tweezers. Do not try to use household items other than tweezers, as they might push the object further up the cavity. Do keep in mind to have someone help you while removing foreign objects from your own ear as well as to keep in mind to be extra careful not to be too harsh as you might puncture your eardrum. If the foreign object is stuck up your child’s nose or ear and they refuse to keep still, it’s best to take them to a professional.

What can an ENT specialist do?
If you have a foreign object stuck in your nose or ear and can’t get it out easily, it’s safest to go to the doctor rather than risk hurting yourself or your child. An Ear-Nose-Throat Specialist can use a local anesthetic to numb the area and use their expertise to better navigate the cavity and remove the object from the ear or nose. If the object is too far up the nose to reach, the ENT Specialist can administer medication to induce a nosebleed which will naturally dislodge the object from the cavity without having to insert anything into it.

When faced with problems such as a foreign object stuck in the ear or nasal cavity, it’s best to consult a professional as soon as possible instead of leaving the problem untouched for a long duration of time, as activities such as sniffing or scratching may further aggravate the issue. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!