really bad nose bleed

Nosebleeds , can be scary at some times., however while nosebleeds can happen out of nowhere, most of them aren’t a serious thing for concern and usually resolve by home care. But no doubt some of them can be really bad too. If you want to know about  really bad nose bleed keep reading . In this article you will find everything related to nosebleeds.

The surface that is the lining of the nose contains several blood vessels, and it takes a slightest injury or even irritation to trigger bleeding. Nosebleeds are a common thing in children and adults, but some nosebleeds are more severe, for them  you’ll need to consult a doctor

 

 

What usually causes nosebleeds?

There are two types  of nosebleeds they are an anterior nosebleed which occurs when the blood vessels in the front of the nose break and bleeding happens. And then there is the Posterior one which can be more dangerous where posterior blood vessels break There is no need to panic for nosebleeds mostly as they are mostly a minor thing and many things can trigger them.  Below are mentioned few causes.:

• Dry air is one of the most common cause of nosebleeds , living in a such a dry climate and then using a central heating system can dry out the nasal membranes, which can lead to crusting inside the nose and then to irritation and eventually to bleeding.
• Allergies  can cause nosebleed too as having antihistamines and nasal decongestants for allergies, colds, or sinus problems could also dry out the nasal membranes and lead to nosebleeds
• Some injury that might cause a nosebleed like a fall, a car accident, or if someone punches in the face.
• Habit of picking the nose.

• Minor injury to the nose.
• repeated sneezing
• cold air
• Any upper respiratory infection
• cancer
• Major injury to the nose .
• blowing the nose way too hard.
• high altitudes that’s unusual l but it’s true .
• Some chemical irritants
• blood thinner medications

• stress and anxiety
• high blood pressure
• pregnancy
• vasculitis like Wenger’s disease can cause a bad nose bleed too
• Nasal polyps can be the reason as well

 

When should one worry about a really bad nose bleed?

Most people during adulthood and childhood  will have at least one nosebleed . In maximum cases, the bleeding stops after a few minutes of home care. Other times, nosebleeds can have symptoms that may need a call or consultation to a doctor. Some nosebleeds are minor like one will notice blood dripping or running the nose bleeding might be from one nostril or both nostrils. Immediate self care helps  in stopping  the bleed but there are some nose bleeds which are serious like those having other symptoms as well or those who don’t get better with self care or those who last for more than 20 minutes , all these cases need an intervention from the doctor.

 

What are the symptoms of a really bad nose bleed?

Mostly in all cases blood  flows  from a single nostril, but when a nosebleed is densely heavy, it will spill into the second nostril, and can also run down the throat and even into the stomach in this case the patient will also spit up blood or sometimes even vomit blood. In not so common that is in rare cases, where blood loss is especially heavy, the patient can have a feeling of light-headed ness ,or may feel dizzy and may even faint sometime.

 

When should see a doctor for a really bad nose bleed?

If the nosebleed doesn’t stop after 20 minutes of direct pressure a doctor should be consulted . Sometimes serious injuries can affect the nose or skull and lead to bleeding at those moments it’s an medical emergency.

If any object gets stuck in the nose by any chance you should consult a doctor.

If a person has some  other symptoms like dizziness, headache, tiredness, vomiting, or trouble breathing this lead to the intuition of extreme  blood loss, or blood dripping down the throat.

It’s important to see a doctor if there is trouble in breathing, or presence of gagging with a nosebleed.

If there is bleeding from other parts of your body too like ears or rectum, mostly it may indicate internal bleeding, blood clotting disorders, or blood vessel problems.

Age shouldn’t matter adults and children should also be examined by a doctor if there are frequent nosebleeds, even if they are minor ones. This may indicate an ongoing problem like nasal growths Or polyps.

 

What’s the best way to treat a really bad nose bleed

Here’s are few  self-care tips to treat the occasional nose bleed.

1. Stay upright:

Sitting in upright position helps in blood drain from the nose, and prevents it from dripping down to the throat. Blood dripping down the throat can cause a gag like feeling or even vomiting and nausea.

1. Use cold therapy.

Applying a cold ice pack to the bridge of the  nose helps in constricting the blood vessels in the nose, which can stop the bleeding.

1. Blow the nose gently once so that it helps to remove any blood clots in the nostrils.
2. Pinch the nose for 5 minutes to stop the bleeding , with care slowly squeeze the soft portion of the nose for at least 5 minutes without letting it go. The pressure on the nasal septum can help in stopping  the blood flow. Repeat this thing if the bleeding doesn’t stop if necessary for up to 15 minutes.
3. Use a damp a little wet washcloth. What people mostly do is place gauze or tissue inside the nostril which shouldn’t be done in any case . Instead, it’s better to hold a damp washcloth over the nose to help in absorption of the blood.

When the bleed is severe and doesn’t stop by any means the doctor may :

1. surgically correct the deviated septum if present.
2. adjust the blood-thinning medication.
3. use a cauterization technique to stop bleeding by closing the bleeding blood vessel.

 

Diagnosing a really bad nosebleed?

• If there is nose bleeding and  medical attention is asked doctor will conduct a physical examination to try to determine the cause.
• Doctor will check for any foreign objects in the nose. Medical history and current medications are also important in diagnosis for a nose bleed.

• Doctor will ask about other symptoms if present and about recent injuries if took place .

Few tests might help in diagnosis which include:

• complete blood count , it’s to check for blood disorders.
• PTT , it’s  is a blood test that checks how long it takes for the blood to form a clot.
• nasal endoscopy can help for polyps Or growths.
• CT scan of the nose can be helpful too.
• X-ray of the face and nose for any fractures or injuries.

 

Who gets a really bad nose bleed?

• Nosebleeds are very common and most people  experience them at some stage of life every now and again. Anyone can get a nosebleed at anytime, but they most often affect people including:
• Children who are between the age group of 2 and 10 years.
• Old or elderly people.
• During pregnancy.
• People who are on specific medications like on blood thinning medication like aspirin or are on anticoagulants, such as warfarin.
• People with any clotting disorders, like haemophilia

 

What’s the best way to prevent really bad nose bleed?

• If one has nosebleeds  due to sinusitis, allergies, or other known conditions these are the  few tips to decrease their frequency overall.
• Using saline nose will keep the nasal passage moist.
• Using a humidifier when a person has some allergies or the common cold can cause a nosebleed.
• Try not to blow the nose way too hard.
• Try to stop smoking as smoking can dry and irritate the nasal passage leading to bleeding .
• Try to wear protective face gear when playing  sports.
• Keep the mouth open when sneezing to prevent injuring to the blood vessels within the nose
• Try to avoid nose picking.
• Limit the intake of aspirin, which is a blood thinner and can thin the  blood and contribute to nosebleeds but it’s better to discuss this with the concerned doctor first .
• Use medications like antihistamines and decongestants in limit as they can dry out the nose.

 

Takeaway

Nosebleeds are very common and mostly aren’t  serious. Most are anterior nosebleeds that is problem with anterior vessels and can mostly be treated at home. These usually happen out of nowhere and don’t last for long time. If the bleeding doesn’t stop from the anterior nosebleed,  doctor should be consulted immediately. A posterior nosebleed means where issue is with posterior vessel it can be more serious. Contact the Doctor or go to emergency directly for such cases.