The bleeding has stopped, the panic is over…now what?
In this guide, we’ll tell you what you should do after a nosebleed, when the last drop of blood has soaked into the tissue.
What Should You do After a Nosebleed?
We are living in the information age. With the click of a button, the tap of a screen, or a simple voice command, you can learn about everything from the latest Patriots score to a detailed analysis of the Hundred Years War. And yet, misinformation is more prevalent than it has ever been.
Misinformed medical advice is particularly rife. There are still many people who insist that you should treat a nosebleed by holding your nose tightly and tilting your head back. They also suggest that you should blow as hard as you can when the bleeding stops—advice that would make any medical professional cringe.
When the bleeding stops, you should refrain from picking or blowing your nose for at least 12 hours, as it may trigger another torrent of blood.
Avoid lifting heavy objects and try to refrain from bending down, if you can. If the bleed was the result of trauma, use an ice pack to reduce swelling. It will also help to tighten the blood vessels, but you need to avoid placing the pack directly on your skin for more than 5 minutes at a time.
Drinking a hot cup of tea or coffee and taking a hot bath or shower should also be avoided following a heavy nosebleed. The hot steam, along with the caffeine from the tea/coffee, may trigger another bleed. However, if the bleed was relatively minor, this is usually not something you need to worry about.
