11 of 17

Write now Article Tools

Nose bleeds (epistaxis) can be an adventure of there own. Before we discuss nose bleeds, let's talk about bleeding in general. Most people freak out at the sight of blood thinking the person is going to bleed to death. Take a half of cup of water and go outside and pour it onto a sidewalk. It spreads out pretty far doesn't it? Keep that in mind when it comes to the sight of blood, it was just a half of cup of water.

There are two main types of nose bleeds, lower and upper septum bleeds. Lower septum bleeds usually does not require medical attention. People who are oxygen are likely to get these bleeds. The mucous membranes in the nasal passages requires constant humidification. When a person is on oxygen constantly it dries the mucous membranes. Vaseline is a cure to this. Take a swab and rub vaseline in the nostrils. Nose picking no matter how repulsive can cause lower septum bleeding. Let's face it everyone has done it.

Treatment of lower septum bleeding is very easy. First pinch your nose and then lean forward slightly. You do not want to lean back causing the blood to go down the esophagus. Blood in the stomach may cause nausea and vomiting. Grab a bucket so the person can spit any blood into. If this does not work, try applying a cold compress to the bridge of your nose. This will help constrict the vessels. If none of these work then it is time to consider a trip a to the emergency room.

Upper septum bleeds are more serious and usually require medical attention. Hypertension, arterial disease, side effects from drugs legal and illegal, tumors in the nasal cavity and trauma are all causes of upper septum bleeds. Treatment of upper septum bleeds are the similar to the lower septum bleeds. Start by using the same procedures above for the lower septum bleeds.Trauma related bleeds are treated differently. In trauma related nose bleeds it is very important to consider the mechanism of injury before treating. If the person has facial and /or orbital fractures airway may become obstructed. Do not apply to much pressure to cause a loose bone fragment to lodge itself into the airway.

Once in th emergency room there are several procedures that they can perform to control and stop bleeding. They can try putting liquid cocaine on a cotton swab and placing into the nasal passages. This causes vasoconstriction. Another method is packing your nose with compacted cotton, similar to a tampon, normal saline is injected once causes it to swell and put pressure on the bleed. There is also a a procedure called cauterization that may be required. This is done with a heating device that burns the blood vessel that is bleeding. it's almost like a welder.

Bloody noses are an adventure and can be a nuisance. The main thing to remember is to remain calm. Think about the half cup of water on the sidewalk. It may look like a lot but in reality it is not.

Learn more about this author, Samantha L. Walton.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Dealing with nosebleeds?
We want to hear your view. Write now!