Nosebleeds

'Tis the season for nosebleeds; the air is drier, indoor heating is in use and colds and flus abound.

Most nosebleeds occur because each nostril has a network of small, delicate blood vessels right at the opening of the nostril (Keiselbach's plexus, for those who like to know these things).

Problem is, this plexus in in reach of your hand meaning that sneezing, rubbing or wiping your nose (or picking your nose) can physically damage them and result in bleeding.

Most remedies for nosebleeds seem like remedies for hiccups- mainly designed for the amusement of bystanders.

Direct pressure stops bleeding in the nose just like it stops bleeding from other places such as a cut on your hand.

So, treat nosebleeds as follows:

1. Press firmly but gently along the side of your nose with your finger.
2. Do not tilt your head back (tasting your own blood is off-putting), do not pack your nose with Kleenex (you remove blood clots are renew the bleeding when you take it out).
3. DO THIS FOR 15 MINUTES WITHOUT LETTING UP THE PRESSSURE!
4. It takes 15 minutes to not only form a blood clot, but for it to be hard enough so that when you let up on the pressure it doesn't just fall apart.
5. This cannot be over-emphasized; 15 minutes is a long time in our hurry, hurry, hurry society. If you need to watch TV and wait through two entire sets of commercial breaks, do it.
6. If necessary, repeat again.
7. If this doesn't work, spray 3-4 puffs of an over-the-counter nasal decongestant spray (Afrin, Neo-Synephrine, 4-Way, etc.) into the bleeding nostril to shrink down the blood vessels and try 15 minutes of direct pressure again.
8. If this still hasn't work, you should call to be seen or go to the emergency department.

Nosebleeds are generally not a sign of high blood pressure. It takes an exceedingly high pressure to cause this to occur, such as 170-240 on your blood pressure cuff. Mind, if your blood pressure is that high you should be seen urgently about this.