What to do if you have a nosebleed

Nosebleeds are not a disease in themselves; rather, they are just a symptom of various diseases. Nosebleeds can be caused by many other diseases in the body, apart from nose, ear, and throat. It can happen at any age. It can occur on one side of the nose or on both sides. Although it is a common problem in most cases, it can sometimes be life-threatening.

Epistaxis: The problem of nosebleeds is known as epistaxis in medical terms. Generally, 60 percent of people face the problem of nosebleeds at some point in their lives. At least six percent of them have to seek help from doctors and hospitals.

 

Causes of nosebleeds: Nosebleeds can occur for various reasons. In many cases, bleeding occurs without any reason. This is called idiopathic or unknown cause. Usually, nosebleeds can occur due to local, systemic, or other medical reasons.

 

Local causes include:
Trauma: Any type of trauma that occurs to the nose, such as a fight, a road accident, being poked in the nose with a finger or something else, trauma to the nose due to surgery, exposure to chemicals or excessive heat, or excessive pressure in the surrounding air due to an explosion.

 

Various types of nose infections. Such as:

* Chronic rhinitis or frequent colds
* Sinusitis or inflammation of the sinuses
* Adenoiditis or inflammation of the adenoid glands
* Atrophic rhinitis
* Rhinosporidiosis
* Tuberculosis
* Diphtheria
* Mycelium
* Common viral colds like influenza, etc.

 

Various tumors of the nose. Such as:

* Angiofibroma
* Nasopharyngeal cancer
* Hemangioma
* Inverted papilloma
* Sarcoma etc.

 

Others: Some other spatial factors include-

* Excessive curvature of the middle bone of the nose
* Hole in the middle of the nose

 

Physical causes include:

* High blood pressure - this is why nosebleeds are more common in older people.
* Heart failure
* Anemia - when it is very high.
* Jaundice or inflammation of the liver
* Liver disease such as liver cirrhosis

 

Various blood diseases, such as:

* Aplastic anemia
* Hemophilia
* Atherosclerosis or fatty deposits in the blood vessels
* Thrombocytopenia
* Purpura

 

Birth defects: Some birth defects of the blood vessels can still cause nosebleeds.

Medications: Some medications used to thin the blood, such as aspirin, clopidogrel, and heparin, can cause nosebleeds.

 

Where most bleeding occurs: Most bleeding occurs from the lower part of the nasal septum. Here, four blood vessels have come together to form a network known as the Kisselbach plexus. If this network is damaged, injured, or ruptured for any reason, profuse bleeding occurs from the nose.

 

What to do at home if you have a nosebleed: Don't panic if you have a nosebleed. The nose has many small blood vessels, so a lot of blood can flow. Many people get scared at the sight of blood. When you get scared, it's difficult to handle the situation.

 

* Press the bleeding area with your finger for 6-10 minutes.
* Apply ice to the nose.
* Clean the nose thoroughly.
* If the patient has a history of high blood pressure, measure their blood pressure. If necessary, give them blood pressure medication.
* If the bleeding does not stop, the patient should be taken to the nearest hospital and an ENT specialist should be consulted. If necessary, the nostrils should be closed with antiseptic cream and gauze.

 

Treatment: Treatment should be determined based on the cause of the bleeding. Bleeding from the front of the nose can be stopped very quickly, but bleeding from the back or inside often takes a long time to stop. In some cases, various blood tests, X-rays, and CT scans are required. Usually, the blood vessels responsible for the bleeding are closed (electrocautery or chemical cautery) through nasal endoscopy. Epistaxis due to high blood pressure in elderly people needs to be treated. Source: Kaler Kantho