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Nose bleeds are often the result of common events, usually trauma, but nose bleeds can be a warning of other problems. Nose bleeds are caused by a small blood vessel rupturing. There are two main types of nose bleed, anterior and posterior bleeds.
· High blood pressure
· Disease of the arteries such as atherosclerosis
· Side effects of medications and drugs such as aspirin, cocaine
· Bleeding disorders
· Nasal tumors, cancerous and non-cancerous
· Serious trauma such as a displaced broken nose from car crashes, falls etc
· Leukemia
· Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, a hereditary disease where a growth like a birth mark is located in the nose.
· Infection
· Nose bleeds can occur for no apparent reason.Causes are as follows:
Sit up straight and pinch the nostrils together firmly for 10 minutes.
You can place a cold compress or an ice pack across the bridge of your nose.
If a nose bleed does not stop after 10 to 20 minutes of direct pressure, you should see your ENT doctor.
More urgent medical attention is required if;
· the blood loss is heavy
· if you get nose bleeds often
· if the injury/trauma is severe
· The person is an infant or child, or if the person is already sick or elderly.
· If you are at all worried about the nose bleed seek further medical advice.
· Your doctor may have pack the nose with gauze or an inflatable latex balloon if the bleeding does not stop. Cauterization of the bleeding blood vessel may be required. This involves an electrical or heated device to burn the ruptured blood vessel to stop the bleeding. The doctor uses a local anaesthetic before he or she begins this procedure.
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