How to Treat Nosebleeds and Recognize the Causes of Nosebleeds

Have you or your child ever had a nosebleed? Almost everyone has experienced this condition. Nosebleeds can be a serious problem if they occur repeatedly.

Nosebleeds are bleeding that occurs in the nasal cavity. This nosebleed is often experienced by children aged 3-10 years. In general, this condition can only last for a few seconds. However, in other conditions, it can also occur for 20 minutes. Many people don't know what causes nosebleeds, how to deal with them, and what tips to do to prevent nosebleeds from occurring. Read the brief explanation below until it's finished.

Causes of Nosebleeds

There are several factors that cause someone to experience nosebleeds. Among others are:

Dry air conditions

Dry air conditions can affect the humidity of the nasal cavity. This condition usually occurs in cold climates. This can cause infection in the nasal cavity.

Frequently picking your nose.

Frequently picking your nose can also cause nosebleeds. This happens most to children. Long, dirty nails and digging too deep can cause nose bleeding.

Stress

In conditions of mind that are burdened with stress, it is thought that this can also trigger nosebleeds. Even people who are often stressed and overly anxious can experience nosebleeds that recur or occur suddenly. However, stress or anxiety does not directly cause nosebleeds. However, there are usually certain conditions that can cause nosebleeds.

Use of blood-thinning drugs

Various blood thinning drugs such as aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel bisulfate, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also cause someone to frequently experience nosebleeds. Blood thinners will change the blood's ability to clot or clot. As a result, bleeding in the nose cannot be avoided or is difficult to stop, which is why nosebleeds occur.

Cancer

In general, nosebleeds will stop by themselves without special medical treatment. However, if it occurs repeatedly, it can be a sign of a serious disease, such as cancer.

Leukemia

The cause of frequent nosebleeds can also be a symptom of leukemia. People with leukemia often experience bruising and bleed easily.

Injury to the nose

Accidental injury to the nose can cause the blood vessels in the nasal cavity to be damaged and eventually bleed. This condition is generally found to cause nosebleeds in children. Children more often scratch their noses or rub them. This is because the blood vessels in the nose in children are still weak, making it easy for them to experience nosebleeds.

Pregnancy

Nosebleeds also often occur during pregnancy. However, you don't need to worry because mild nosebleeds with low intensity are not dangerous for the mother and fetus. Hormonal changes in pregnant women are usually the most common cause of nosebleeds. High levels of hormones during pregnancy can increase the blood flow of estrogen and progesterone in all mucus layers in a pregnant woman's body, including the nose.

The membrane in the nose will then swell and widen until it presses on the blood vessels in it. As a result, blood vessels can burst and cause nosebleeds during pregnancy. However, cases that occur in children are mostly caused by dry air conditions and frequent nose-picking.

In general, nosebleeds occur due to rupture of blood vessels in the front of the nose. However, if this occurs due to a rupture of blood vessels at the back of the nose, this is caused by a more serious condition. Among others are:

• Entering a foreign object.
  
• A hard blow to the head caused a broken nose bone.
  
• Exposure to chemicals that irritate the nose.
  
• Nasal tumor.
  
• Nasopharyngeal cancer.
  
• Hypertension.

How to Treat Nosebleeds

First, don't panic when you have a nosebleed; try to stay calm. Here are several ways to provide first aid during a nosebleed.

Sit up straight, and don't lie down.
Lean your body forward so that the blood that comes out does not enter your throat.
Press your nose for 10-15 minutes. Temporarily breathe through the mouth.
Compress with cold water to slow bleeding.

Suppose the steps above have not been able to stop the bleeding. It is best to immediately contact a doctor or the nearest health service because there could be a serious problem.

For the record, when most people experience a nosebleed, the first thing they do is turn their face upwards so that a lot of blood doesn't come out. This is the wrong way. When you turn your face upwards, what happens is that blood can enter the throat. This may result in vomiting or choking.

How to Prevent Nosebleeds

To anticipate the occurrence of nosebleeds, here are a few tips to prevent nosebleeds.

• Use an air humidifier (air humidifer).
  
• Avoid picking your nose excessively.
  
• Pay attention to your consumption of aspirin and blood thinners.
  
• Use medication to relieve nasal congestion according to the dosage because the side effects of this medication can cause the nose to become dry.
  
• Use a saline spray to keep the nasal lining moist.

For parents, if your child often experiences nosebleeds, it might be best to reduce the use of AC and start using an air humidifier to keep the air moist. If your child is getting older, you can be told not to pick his nose to avoid getting a nosebleed.

Apart from that, it also fulfills children's nutritional needs, such as consuming vitamins that can improve the immune system.

Image source: Nosebleed Pictures | https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/health-management/what-causes-nosebleeds-children