Cláudio Ferreira Coordinator LUZ 24 A nosebleed is a usual problem, it can happen to anyone, child, or adult. In children it is more common between 2 and 10 years and in adults after 45-50. A nosebleed is serious? In general, a slight nosebleed is not serious. It is a simple problem that can be solved at home if: It happens suddenly without serious trauma; It does not repeat often; There are no illnesses or medications that can explain it. What causes nose bleeding or epistaxis? Nostrils have numerous small fragile blood vessels near its inner surface (nasal mucosa). Damage to these vessels causes nosebleeds and there are many circumstances when it can happen. Among the most common causes are: Scratching the nose, usually due to dryness of the nose and crusting. The dryness sensation in the nose can happen on many occasions, for example. When the air is dry, whether outdoors (especially when the weather is cold) or indoors due to heating or air conditioning; With the use of local use of medicines that dry the nose. Blowing frequently, such as when you have a runny nose; Sneezing repeatedly; Presence of a foreign body in the nostrils. Non-serious nosebleeds are anterior , that is, they originate in the region of the nostrils closest to the outside. Usually, the blood comes out only through the nostrils, it does not flow to the throat as it happens in posterior hemorrhages. It is more common to be affected only one nostril at a time. There are more serious situations that cause nosebleeds, such as some illnesses or traumas, medication effects, but these are less common. How to stop the nosebleed Sit with your back straight and lean forward slightly , so the blood does not run down to the throat; Close the bleeding nostril by pressing the soft part of the nostril wall against the nose bone. Alternatively, pinch both nostrils with your forefinger and thumb while breathing through your mouth; Hold compression continuously for about 10 minutes and check if it has resolved. If not, repeat the operation; Applying cold to the nose, without ceasing to apply pressure as indicated, can help. Once the bleeding has resolved, you should not scratch your nose, exercise, carry weights or make other efforts for a few days, so that healing can take place without problems. What not to do when you get blood from your nose Do not lie down or tilt your head back to prevent blood from coming out of your nostrils. This does not stop the bleeding and will cause the blood to drain into the throat. Do not put anything inside your nose . Objects used with the intention of making a tampon to stop bleeding usually do not exert enough pressure and can further aggravate the problem. Do not try to remove deep foreign bodies from the nostrils. Prevent common nosebleeds Considering the usual causes of nosebleeds due to damage to the anterior vessels, some preventive measures can be adopted, for example: When the air is too dry, moisten the nasal mucosa with drops of saline solution or specific over-the-counter medications, or protect it with a little vaseline; Do not sleep with heaters or fans on as they dry out the air; Outdoors, when the weather is cold and dry, cover your nose to prevent air contact with the nasal mucosa; When the air in your home is very dry, use a humidifier, especially where you sleep. Seek medical care When even with the aforementioned care, after about half an hour the bleeding has not stopped; Whenever the bleeding is very large and at the same time blood comes out of the nose and flows down to the throat, as it may be a posterior bleeding that needs another type of intervention to stop it; If you have other symptoms, such as dizziness, headache, chest pain, heart beating too fast, among others; When bleeding through the nose has become very common, for example if several times a month. If you need to, call LUZ 24 – 217 104 424 – the Hospital da Luz clinical triage service, by phone, available 24 hours, 365 days, for adults and children. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
