A nosebleed, or epistaxis, can happen for many reasons. It is usually not a cause for concern, and you can often stop a nosebleed at home. Nosebleeds are fairly common. They can last anywhere from a few seconds to more than 15 minutes.
This article explains how to stop a nosebleed at home. It also looks at what can cause a nosebleed and when to contact a doctor.
There are steps that you can take to stop a nosebleed at home.
Sit down and lean forward, then firmly pinch your nose. Pinch just above the nostrils, where the nose is soft.
You may need to continue pinching your nose for at least 5–10 minutes to ensure the bleeding stops.
You can hold an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas against the bridge of your nose. Be sure not to apply anything frozen directly to your skin. Wrapping the ice pack in a towel can help.
Remaining in an upright position can encourage your nose to stop bleeding. This is because the upright position reduces blood pressure on the vessels in your nose compared with when you are lying down. This can help prevent further bleeding.
Other tips for stopping and managing a nosebleed include:
There is no evidence to suggest that placing a copper penny on the forehead or nose helps stop a nosebleed.
However, applying cold to the nose can restrict blood vessels, which can stop bleeding. Applying an ice pack or frozen peas to the bridge of your nose can help stop a nosebleed, too.
Nosebleeds are a common side effect for people taking anticoagulation or blood thinning medication.
If you take blood thinning medication and experience a nosebleed, you can usually treat it at home.
However, if you experience a nosebleed that does not stop after 20 minutes, visit the emergency room or get medical care.
Also, contact your doctor or anticolagulant provider if you experience a major nosebleed or frequent nosebleeds.
It is important that you continue taking your anticoagulation medications and all medications unless instructed by a medical professional to stop taking them.
The fastest way to stop a nosebleed is to pinch the soft part of your nose.
Continue to apply the pressure for up to 15 minutes, and then check to see if your nose is still bleeding.
If your nose is still bleeding, reapply pressure for another 15 minutes. If bleeding persists, get medical advice or visit the emergency room.
Around 10% of nosebleeds will require medical treatment. Medical treatments for a nosebleed can depend on the cause of the bleed, but can include:
If the bleeding does not respond to treatments your doctor can provide, they may refer you to a specialist. They may recommend the following treatments for frequent or persistent nosebleeds:
There are numerous causes of nosebleeds. In some cases, it may not be possible to identify the exact cause.
When the nosebleed begins near the nostrils, this is an anterior nosebleed. A nosebleed that begins at the back of the nose is a posterior nosebleed.
Anterior nosebleeds are the most common type of nosebleeds. Around 90% of anterior nosebleeds happen in the Little’s area, which is the wall in between the nostrils.
Possible causes of anterior nosebleeds include:
Adults are more likely to experience a posterior nosebleed than children. In some cases, a posterior nosebleed can result in more bleeding than an anterior nosebleed, which may be more serious.
Possible causes of posterior nosebleeds include:
If you experience any other symptoms along with a nosebleed, the symptoms can help the doctor identify the cause of the bleed.
If bleeding occurs due to a foreign object in the nose, other symptoms can include:
If your nose bleeds due to hay fever, you may experience symptoms such as:
A nose bleed can also indicate an underlying condition that affects your blood. Symptoms to look out for include:
Contact your doctor if you have concerns about symptoms you experience along with a nosebleed.
Nosebleeds are fairly common, and can occur for a number of reasons.
People most likely to experience nosebleeds include:
While you can often treat a nosebleed at home, in some cases, you may need to get medical advice. Contact your doctor if you:
Go to the emergency room or get immediate medical help if you:
When you have an appointment with a doctor for a nosebleed, they will look inside your nose to help them determine the cause of the nosebleed. They will also ask questions about any other symptoms you may be experiencing, and they may carry out blood tests.
Your doctor may also take your pulse and check your blood pressure.
If your doctor cannot identify the cause of bleeding by looking inside your nose, they may arrange for a nasal endoscopy. This will make it easier to identify the cause of posterior bleeding.
Nosebleeds are not usually a symptom of anything serious. However, if you experience frequent nosebleeds, this can lead to complications such as anemia.
Contact your doctor if you often have nosebleeds. They will be able to carry out tests to identify any underlying cause and test for anemia.
There are steps that you can take to prevent nosebleeds. These include:
A nosebleed is a fairly common condition that can last from a few seconds to more than 15 minutes, and can occur at either the front or the back of the nose.
To treat a nosebleed at home, lean forward and pinch the soft part of your nose. You can also appy ice to the bridge of your nose.
Contact your doctor if bleeding persists or if you experience frequent nosebleeds. Connect with your anticoagulant provider if you take blood thinning medication and experience nosebleeds.
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