Nosebleeds

Whether caused by nose picking, nose injury, colds, influenza, inserting things into the nose, allergies, nasal tumors, dry nasal passages, or nasal infections, most people have had a nosebleed. Most nosebleeds are minor, brought on by allergies, cold weather, sinus infection, or other illnesses.

Most nosebleeds do not require medical attention, but if you've packed your nose with cotton, applied pressure, waited the allotted time, and you're still bleeding, or if you're a senior citizen, and have hardening of the arteries, you won't want to wait more than 10 minutes before you seek a physician's help.  Also, you should head to the emergency room if you’re bleeding (down the back of your throat) from the back of the nose.

Home Remedies For Nosebleeds:

Blow Your Nose:

Before you try to stop your nosebleed, give your nose a good, vigorous blow, it will remove any clots that are keeping the blood vessel open. Blood vessels have elastic fibers, and ff you get the clot out, the elastic fibers will contract around the opening.  Sometimes, blowing the nose, and applying a little pressure is all it takes to stop the bleeding.

Vinegar And Cotton:

Saturate some cotton, or clean gauze, with over-the-counter decongestant spray, or saturate it with white vinegar (vinegar’s acidity gently cauterizes the bleeding area) and plug the nostril with the wet cotton.  Use your thumb and forefinger to squeeze shut the fleshy part of the nose. Hold it for five to seven minutes, or until the bleeding stops.  When it's time to take the cotton out, cup your hands together, fill them with water, and wet the gauze, before gently pulling it out, otherwise you could start the bleeding again. Sit up straight. Leaning your head back only makes the blood go down your throat.  An ice pack can help.  

Ointment:

Applying an antibiotic or steroid ointment to the inside of your nostrils a couple of times a day, can keep it moisturized, and kill any bacteria present.

Watch your salicylate intake by avoiding foods high in salicylates, an aspirin like substance found in coffee, tea, most fruits, and some vegetables.

Control your blood pressure. If hypertension is the cause of your nose bleeds, go on a low-fat, low-cholesterol, sodium restricted diet, and follow the advice of your physician.  Smoking dries out nasal passages, and can cause nosebleeds, so that is another reason to stop smoking.  

Humidifier:

Use humidifiers, or if you have radiators for heat, put a kettle of water on the radiator.  Not only will it always be tea time, it will put moisture in the air to help your dry nasal passages, and prevent more nose bleeds.

Diet:

Bioflavonoids help prevent nosebleeds. Eat at least one citrus fruit a day, and be sure to include the white rubbery skin under the peel. It's called the "pith" and it's extremely rich in bioflavonoids.

In addition, take a vitamin C supplement with bioflavonoids. And add lots of green leafy vegetables to your diet. They're rich in vitamin K, needed for the production of prothrombin, which is necessary for blood clotting.