Home Remedies: Nosebleeds

Dog owners know that a moist nose is a healthy nose. The same is true for people, mostly. We don’t have slippery, leather-like muzzles on the ends of our faces, but our noses produce a lot of moisture, about a quart of mucus a day, says Louis D. Lowry, M.D., professor of otolaryngology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. The mucus, which is about 95 percent water, humidifies the air we breathe for the lungs.

As we get older, though, that moisture in our noses can dry up. The delicate membrane inside becomes dry and brittle, exposing a delicate network of veins and arteries that can break open and cause a nosebleed at even the slightest sneeze or sniff.

Unless they last for a long period of time, nosebleeds aren’t terribly serious, but they are annoying and a little scary. You can stop or prevent them with these simple measures.

Try This First

Stem the flow. There are three basic steps to follow to stop a nosebleed, says Jack B. Anon, M.D., otolaryngologist at Peach Street Medical in Erie, Pennsylvania, and chairman of the Nasal and Sinus Committee for the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.

1. Sit up straight with your head tilted slightly forward so that the blood doesn’t run down your throat.
2. Gently blow out of your nose any clots that could prevent a blood vessel from sealing.
3. Put the squeeze on. Pinch the soft part of your nose between your thumb and forefinger for 10 minutes. “Sometimes, people don’t know where to squeeze. The nose is designed so that your fingers fit right in the soft part on the outside of your nose,” says Dr. Anon. Some blood will come out when you squeeze—but just hold a folded-up tissue at the base of your nostrils to catch the drips.

Other Wise Ways

Spray the vessels shut. If your nose does not stop bleeding after 10 minutes of steady squeezing, use a nasal spray, such as Afrin or Neo-Synephrine, to constrict the vessels in your nose and stop the blood flow. Put four or five squirts in the bleeding nostril and pinch the soft part of your nose for an additional 10 minutes, says Dr. Anon.

Don’t dry out. If you are developing nosebleeds from a dry nose caused by a lack of mucus production, moisten the membrane in your nasal passage with a saline spray to prevent it from cracking and rupturing. Spray the saline in your nose in the morning and evening, says Dr. Lowry.

Humidify your home. Breathing heated air in the winter or cooled air in the summer can dry out your mucous membranes and make you more prone to nosebleeds. Use a cool-mist humidifier to add moisture back into the air and your mucous membranes, says Dr. Lowry. To make sure the level of moisture in your home stays at or above 40 percent relative humidity, buy a gauge at a home-electronics store like Radio Shack.

Managing Your Meds

Any medication that thins the blood will make it more difficult to stop a nosebleed, says Jack B. Anon, M.D., otolaryngologist at Peach Street Medical in Erie, Pennsylvania, and chairman of the Nasal and Sinus Committee for the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. It may also make your nose bleed more frequently. Here are a few common drugs that can slow the time normally required for your blood to clot.

• Aspirin, which is often prescribed in low doses to prevent heart attacks
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen
• Anticoagulants, such as warfarin (Coumadin), prescribed for clotting problems

If you have a nosebleed that has been induced by anticoagulants, try to slow the blood flow with the tips in this chapter and see a doctor right away.

Avoid heavy lifting or bending. Although direct pressure on the blood vessels will make them stop bleeding, pressure from within the vessels will start the flow again, says Dr. Anon. Avoid straining the vessels by lifting anything heavy. And keep your head above the level of your heart to avoid putting pressure on the vessels.

Take your vitamins at night. If you are prone to nosebleeds, be sure you are getting enough vitamin C, which is important in the maintenance of the blood vessels, and vitamin K, which is necessary to control bleeding. The Daily Value for vitamin C is 60 milligrams per day, and 80 micrograms per day of vitamin K. To get the most out of nutritional supplements, you should take them at night, says John A. Henderson, M.D., otolaryngologist and assistant professor of surgery/otolaryngology at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine.

“Only take your nutritional supplements at bedtime. If you take them at breakfast, they’ll be in the urine within seven minutes,” he explains. “Your kidneys slow down when your body is horizontal and sleeping, and vitamins will remain in your system longer and be absorbed.”