Home Remedies for Nose Bleeds

How to stop nose bleeds? Find out the causes of nose bleeding and ways to prevent bleeding nose.

If you suddenly notice that your nose is bleeding, stop whatever you are doing, sit upright and lean your head slightly forward. Then pinch the soft part of your nostrils together with your thumb and index finger. Leave your fingers in this position for 10 minutes to put pressure on the septum and to stop the blood from flowing out through your nose.

At the same time open your mouth so that you can breathe. Don't tilt your head back because it may cause you to swallow the blood. If you have accidentally swallowed it, spit the blood out otherwise you will vomit.

This first aid treatment for bleeding nose should stop your nasal bleeding. But if there is still nasal bleeding after 10 minutes, pinch your nose again for another 10 minutes. If it doesn't stop bleeding after the second attempt, see a doctor.

Once the bleeding has stopped, avoid irritating your nostrils such as picking your nose and blowing or sneezing hard at least for the next 24 hours.

Another way to stop the bleeding nose is to roll a piece of gauze and insert it into your nostril and leave it for 15 minutes. If you need to stop further bleeding, insert another one and leave it there for another 15 minutes. You can also try breathing in mashed or sliced raw onions because there is something in the chemical compounds that help stop the bleeding.

So, what causes nose bleeds? One of the most common causes of nasal bleeding is very dry air. If you stay so much time indoors and use a heater in winter, it will cause your nasal passages to dry or form crusts from dust and dirt that may itch. When you scratch or pick your nose, it will bleed. The dry winter air, common cold, vigorously blowing your runny nose, cigarette smoke, allergies and nose picking are also some of the causes of bleeding nose.

A trauma to the nose that is caused by a hard object will cause your nose to bleed. It can also cause swelling or fracture to the nasal bone. If this happens, place gauze in each nostril to stop the bleeding and see a physician to check if the injury occurs at the back part of the nose and if your nasal bone is broken.

Unlike the normal nasal bleeding, frequent nose bleeding is one of the warning signs of high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis which is the hardening of the arteries or liver disease. Certain medications such blood thinning and nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, aspirins, non cancerous growth in the nostril and nasal surgery can also cause nasal hemorrhage.

How to Prevent Nose Bleeds

1. Stop picking your nose. The lining of the nostrils are filled with veins and capillaries and your fingernails can injure the lining and cause it to bleed. If you want to clean your nostril use a piece of tissue.
   
   
   
2. Check if you have vitamin K deficiency because one of the functions of vitamin K is to assist in blood clotting. The simplest way to add vitamin K to your diet is to eat foods that contain this nutrient such as green leafy vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, soybeans and cereals.
   
   
   
3. Eating foods that are high in vitamin C or taking vitamin C supplement and zinc are also beneficial for the blood vessels.
   
   
   
4. Natural remedies that may help prevent or stop frequent nose bleeds include drinking diluted apple cider vinegar or taking cayenne pepper supplement regularly.
   
   
   
5. Keep your nasal passages moisturized by applying water-based jelly, Vaseline or over the counter saline spray.
   
   
   
6. Add moisture to your home by using a humidifier or vaporizer and add a pan of water and place it near the radiator especially if you spend long hours indoors. Warm dry air dries up your nasal passages, irritates and triggers bleeding.
   
   
   
7. Go for a medical check up to find out if you have high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis or liver disease. If you do have, treat the problem.
   
   
   
8. Try to avoid taking aspirin to treat your pain and aches because it interferes with blood clot. There are many herbs such as motherwort, skullcap and white willow bark that are natural analgesic or pain reliever that don't cause side effect. Before taking herbal extract, check if it contains blood thinning activity. Green tea extract for example may cause bleeding nose.
   
   
   
9. If you are taking any prescription medication and it is causing your nose to bleed, let your doctor know. Do not combine any herbal extract or over the counter medication for bleeding nose before consulting with your physician.
   
   
   
10. Quit smoking because cigarette smoke will cause your nasal passage to dry.

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