What causes nosebleeds (and how to stop them)

Nasal bleeding (epistaxis) is common for many adults and children due to the high density of blood vessels in the nose. Fortunately, nosebleeds are usually easy to stop at home. But when dealing with frequent or chronic nosebleeds, you may be wondering if there are any natural remedies that can stop them from appearing in the first place. I dug around and came up with some tips and tricks for you.

Causes of nosebleeds

Bleeding from the nose occurs when blood flows from one or both nostrils. The most common cause of nosebleeds is local trauma. This can happen from minor injuries such as a ball hitting the face, falling and hitting the nose or something similar. This type of trauma is common for children who play outside all day (as it should be!).

Another reason is dry mucous membranes. Dry air can irritate the mucous membranes and cause cracking and crusting, which can lead to nosebleeds. High altitude can contribute to this dryness.

Infections of the nose or sinuses or colds can also contribute to nosebleeds as well as foreign material in the nostrils.

If the nostrils are already dry or cracked, a runny nose can also contribute to nosebleeds.

In rare cases, tumors, vascular malformations, liver disease, blood clotting disorders and other serious medical problems may be to blame for nosebleeds. In addition, children with chronic illnesses and medications may have more frequent nosebleeds. It is important to talk to a healthcare professional to rule this out.

What causes chronic nosebleeds in children?

Chronic nosebleeds are most often caused by a runny nose along with dry mucous membranes or other irritation in the nasal passages. If your child has frequent nosebleeds, consult a healthcare professional to rule out major problems. Keeping a child’s nose moist is often all that needs to be done to reduce nosebleeds. Most nosebleeds are easy to stop and do not indicate a serious problem. However, it is a good idea to consult a doctor for ears, nose and throat to rule out major problems.

How to stop nosebleeds

There are two types of nosebleeds – front and back. Anterior nosebleeds come from the front of the nose (usually from dry membranes, picking the nose, etc.), while anterior nosebleeds come from deeper into the nose (more often caused by trauma).

If you or your child is experiencing nosebleeds, here are your first steps:

• Have the child sit up straight. This helps to relieve the pressure in the veins of the nose.
• Have the child tilt his head slightly forward. This helps reduce the ingestion of blood, which can irritate the stomach.
• Have the child blow his nose slightly to remove excess blood from his nostrils.
• Use your thumb and forefinger (or direct your child to use theirs) to close both nostrils (even if only one bleeds). Pinching the soft part of the nose helps to put pressure on the bleeding area.
• Keep doing this for 10-15 minutes. If the bleeding has not stopped yet, change the pressure for another 10-15 minutes.
• Once the bleeding has stopped, help your child not to touch or rub his nose.
• A cold compress over the nose can restrict blood vessels and stop bleeding.

These tips almost always help to remove nosebleeds at home within 15 to 30 minutes.

You can also dip a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and apply it to the bleeding nostril. This is thought to help narrow blood vessels.

When to seek medical help

Usually, nosebleeds can easily stop at home. But if your child’s nosebleed doesn’t stop with the above recommendations, traveling or calling your doctor is the next best step:

• If nosebleeds are followed by another injury (such as a head injury)
• If breathing becomes difficult
• If a large amount of blood is lost
• If nosebleeds occur in a child under 2 years of age
• If it lasts more than 30 minutes, even following the instructions above
• If you are taking anticoagulants

If you are ever unsure, it is best to consult your doctor about what to do for nosebleeds.

Natural remedies for nosebleeds

Bleeding from the nose can occur for a number of reasons. These natural remedies can help reduce the frequency of nosebleeds and can help you avoid them altogether. Bleeding from the nose can be very disturbing for young children, so I always prefer to avoid them when we can!

Keep the nasal mucosa moist

Since dryness and irritation are common causes of nosebleeds, I always work to avoid dry nostrils first. Here’s what I do:

• Use saline nasal drops or spray – saline drops or spray can help keep the nasal passages moist when the air is dry. I like Genexa saline because it is made without added artificial ingredients. If any of the children are particularly sensitive to nosebleeds at this time, I will definitely make them use saline daily for a few days or a week.

• Humidifier – The humidifier is another option for keeping the nasal passages moist. Humid air soothes and relaxes the mucous membranes. A humidifier in the bedroom at night (or throughout the house during the day) can be useful for keeping the nasal passages moist in winter or if you live in a dry climate.
• Use moisturizing lubricants such as ointment or beeswax ointment. This can help restore dry nasal crusts.

And of course, drink plenty of water! Hydration is important to keep mucous membranes moist.

Keep children’s nails trimmed

Because knocking out the nose can irritate already irritated nostrils, this helps to cut the nails so that they are less likely to cause damage.

Avoid strenuous activities

Intense activity can irritate already irritated nasal passages. Ruptured blood vessels need 7-10 days to recover, so it is best to treat them carefully. Avoid straining, lifting or straining for a week after nosebleeds to allow repairs. This will be more difficult for children to follow, but is helpful in stopping relapse.

Vitamin K.

This vitamin is essential for proper blood clotting, so it is important to make sure you get enough of this vitamin every day. Foods that contain vitamin K include:

• Cale
• Spinach
• Cabbage
• Brussels sprouts
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower

Vitamin K is also important for the formation of collagen in the body. If you do not have enough vitamin K, you may end up with dry nasal passages, which can lead to nosebleeds, as vitamin K deficiency can lead to a decrease in collagen.

If you find it difficult to get enough vitamin K through food, supplements are also an option.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is also an important nutrient that helps with nosebleeds. Studies show that vitamin C is important for the health of blood vessels. It promotes collagen formation and reduces inflammation in blood vessels, according to a 2013 study.

Vitamin C is easily found in fruits and vegetables, but if you do not see improvements, you may need to add it.

Zinc

It is also known that this nutrient is important for the health of blood vessels. Although there are no studies that link it directly to less nosebleeds, it’s still a good idea to get adequate amounts of zinc. Find zinc in these foods:

• Meat
• Midi
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Dairy
• Eggs
• Dark chocolate

Supplements are also an option if you can’t get enough zinc from food sources.

Irrigation of the nose

Using a net pot to irrigate the nasal passages can help keep the nostrils moist, as well as remove dust and debris that can irritate them. This is also useful when you have a cold or sinus infection. The net sweat may seem scary, but once you get the hang of it, it’s really quite simple. Even my kids use one!

Easily stop nosebleeds at home

If you or your child bleeds frequently from the nose, these tips will help you quickly stop nosebleeds as well as reduce the frequency of nosebleeds. With many children in our family, nosebleeds are not uncommon! But with these natural remedies, I always feel ready to deal with one when it happens.

What are your best remedies for nosebleeds?

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Madiha Said, a family doctor certified by the board. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk to your doctor.

Sources:

1. Sharaev PN, Bogdanov NG, Yamaldinov RN At the exchange of collagen in the skin at different? provision of the body with vitamin K. [Collagen metabolism in the skin with different vitamin K regimens]. Biull Exp Biol Med. June 1976; 81 (6): 665-6. Russian. PMID: 953299. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/953299/
2. May, JM, & Harrison, FE (2013). Role of vitamin C in vascular endothelial function. Antioxidants and Redox Signaling, 19 (17), 2068–2083. https://doi.org/10.1089/ars.2013.5205 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3869438/