Nosebleed - what should be noted?

About 60% of people have had at least one nosebleed, bleeding in one or two nostrils, unexpectedly and without obvious cause.

Causes of nosebleeds

The nose is very vulnerable and bleeding. That's because the nose plays an important role in warming and moistening the air we breathe. Under the thin skin of the nostrils there are countless small blood vessels that regulate the temperature of the airflow into the lungs.

There are several causes of these blood vessels that cause nasal bleeding.

A hit on the face can cause nosebleeds, whether or not the bone is broken. Infection or dryness of the nose will increase the likelihood of bleeding. A study published in the Journal of Skull Surgery (USA) found that people with nasal bleeding are 7 times more likely to get staph infections than others.

Too cold or too hot weather also contributes to nosebleeds, especially when the weather is dry, the situation is more serious. A study in the United States found that in the winter more than 40% of patients to the emergency department were due to nosebleeds, and in the hot dry season in many parts of Africa, there were also more people with nosebleeds.

Picture 1 of Nosebleed - what should be noted?
Cold or hot weather also contributes to nosebleeds.

If nosebleeds caused by broken blood vessels, the blood usually flows out, but because the internal blood vessels are broken, the blood usually flows to the neck, and the person is often spit out or swallowed. Sometimes, patients who vomit blood but are not caused by internal bleeding but accidentally swallowed blood from nosebleeds without knowing it.

Who is prone to nosebleeds?

Children are more susceptible than adults, but are only mild and often external. Usually the blood stops flowing without having to see a doctor. Of the children who have to see a doctor, 93% need only simple treatment, such as squeezing the wound with a cotton button. Young children often have a rusty nose, which is also easy to damage the thin skin inside the nostril causing bleeding.

The second group is at risk of being older than 65 years and may be worse. At this age, nasal bleeding may be a sign of a more serious health problem, such as a blood clot, chronic sinusitis, or leukemia.

People who use anticoagulants and nasal sprays containing steroids are also susceptible to nosebleeds.

Internal nosebleeds are generally less common but more common in the elderly. This problem is also more difficult to handle and may even last for hours.

High blood loss sometimes leads to anemia or blood transfusions. However, the risk of death from nosebleeds is extremely low. Of the 2.4 million deaths in the US in 1999, 4 were due to nosebleeds.

What to do when a nosebleed?

Many people are anxious to meet this situation because they don't know how long it will take and lose much blood. But overall, it is not worth worrying about.

Follow normal first aid instructions. Allow the patient to sit down on the chair and keep quiet, bow slightly forward to avoid blood flow from the throat and press the nose with your finger or insert a piece of medical cotton into your nose.

If severe, blood continues to flow for more than 30 minutes or bleeding due to severe head or bleeding impact due to side effects of a certain drug, see a doctor immediately.

If you have nosebleeds, you can try an anti-congestion spray (relieve nasal congestion) or apply a softener, moisturize the nasal mucosa.