The majority of nosebleeds are harmless and can be treated in your own home with a few basic supplies.
If you get frequent nosebleeds, you should purchase some Nampons and keep them on standby. If you don't have any Nampons to hand, try the following homemade remedies for stopping and preventing nosebleeds.
Home Remedies for Preventing Nosebleeds
There are a few home remedies that can prevent frequent nosebleeds, keeping your nostrils, shirt, and carpets completely blood-free:
- Petroleum Jelly: Dab a little petroleum jelly on the inside of the nose to keep the area dry and protected. Most nosebleeds are triggered when the nasal septum becomes dry and damaged, and if you can keep this part of the nose moist, you can greatly reduce the risk.
- Use a Humidifier: If your home is very dry, it may be damaging your nose and causing frequent nosebleeds. Use a humidifier to keep dry rooms moist throughout the night.
- Use a Saline Solution: Nose picking is one of the most common causes of nosebleeds, as untrimmed and errant fingernails damage the fragile blood vessels in the inside of the nose. You still need to keep your nose clean, but that doesn't mean you need to pick! A simple saline nasal spray will help to flush everything away without drying or damaging the nostrils.
- Drinking Water: Consuming plenty of water throughout the day will keep your body and nose hydrated. It may also provide a wealth of other benefits and it's very important to keep your fluid intake high.
- What About Diet? It's often said that a little vitamin K and vitamin C can help you to prevent nosebleeds. Diet might play a role, but only if you have deficiencies. The idea that mega-dosing nutrients will provide any major health benefits is a complete fallacy.
Home Remedies for Stopping Nosebleeds
You don't really need any home remedies to stop nosebleeds.
Just gently pinch the soft part of your nose with your thumb and index finger, sit down, lean forward, and wait for 5 to 10 minutes.
That should be enough to stop a nosebleed. If it doesn't work, just repeat the process.
The pinching helps to promote blood clotting while leaning forward helps to drain the blood out of your nose and not down your throat.
Refrain from relieving the pressure just to see if the bleeding has stopped. Breathe through your mouth during this time and don't pick or blow your nose.
An ice pack may help, as well. Wrap it in a towel and place it over the bridge of your nose. It should help to reduce the swelling.
The blood vessels in your nose are very fine and delicate and it doesn't take much for these to break and bleed. By applying pressure, leaning forward, and breathing through your mouth, you can promote clotting and stop the bleeding. If you immediately apply more pressure to those blood vessels by picking or blowing your nose, you'll remove the clot and trigger more bleeding.
When Home Remedies Are Not Enough to Stop Nose Bleeding
We say the words, "Most nosebleeds are harmless" a lot on this blog. It's true, and it's important to get that point across because it can be a pretty terrifying experience when you have your first nosebleed or witness your child have their first nosebleed.
Some people are more prone than others. Most people will have at least one nosebleed at some point in their lives, and the majority are caused by nose picking, nose blowing, and other innocuous triggers.
However, there are exceptions. If your nose is bleeding heavily and/or for more than 15 minutes at a time, you should seek medical attention. You should also seek emergency care if a nosebleed:
- Was caused by a car accident
- Was the result of a serious head collision
- Occurs in a child under the age of 2
- Causes breathing difficulties
Even if you don't tick any of these boxes and don't need to visit the emergency room, you should still talk to your doctor and seek some medical advice. They can run some tests to rule out any serious health conditions. It also helps to have that information on your record, as it will need to be considered when prescribing you certain medications in the future, including blood thinners.
