Dr KK Aggarwal
Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee
President, Heart Care Foundation of India
Nosebleed is a common problem, occurring in up to 60 percent of the general population and is often due to a respiratory illness or dry conditions. Dryness of the nose is common in summer because of the use of air conditioners and also in winters due to the cold, dry weather, said Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India and Dr. Aru Handa, Department Co–coordinator and Senior Consultant Dept. of ENT, Moolchand Medcity.
Some common reasons for nosebleeds are as follows:
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Nasal allergies
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Blowing the nose too hard or trying to remove something from inside the nose.
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A result of “popping” the ear
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Nasal exposure to chemicals
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Frequent sneezing or having an upper respiratory infection
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Use of nasal spray or a blood–thinning drug, such as aspirin
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Inhaling air that is extremely dry or cold
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Having undergone recent surgery on the nose or elsewhere on the face
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Breaking the nose or a similar injury
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Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Properly instructed patients may achieve control of bleeding unassisted. The correct procedure involves grasping the nose alae distally. The patient should be advised not to check for active bleeding, but instead to maintain constant pressure for at least five minutes.
Other maneuvers include bending forward at the waist while sitting up (to avoid swallowing blood), placing a plug of cotton wool or tissue paper into the bleeding nostril (sometimes coated with antibiotic ointment), expectorating blood that accumulates in the pharynx, and a cold compress applied to the bridge of the nose.
These maneuvers should also be taught to high–risk patients for use at home.
Source of information
