​How Do I Stop A Simple Nosebleed?

Ever asked yourself, why won't my nose stop bleeding? Or simply ask, how to stop a bloody nose? Nosebleeds (also called epistaxis) can have many causes and can range in severity, which is why the blood's ability to clot or blood clots seems slow. How to stop a nose bleed? Most nose bleeds or blood flow are located in the front part of the septum, where they typically can be stopped with digital pressure. The most common causes of simple nosebleeds are dry air (often more frequent in the Winter or nose bleeding during winter) and trauma (from nose picking or scratching the nose). Instances like blood clotting disorders (which is one of the major risk factors), or the use of blood thinners for a patient with blood clot like a cavernous sinus thrombosis, or blood thinning medicine or simply having frequent nosebleeds due to delicate blood vessels.  Unfortunately, many people have been told not to lean forward but to look up and squeeze the bones of the nose to stop a nosebleed. This method is fairly ineffective for bloody noses.  Because when the nose starts bleeding and you look up, it allows blood to drain into the back of the throat and does not apply pressure to the source of most nosebleeds.

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How to Stop a Nosebleed


The following steps are helpful for most simple nosebleeds:


  1. Try to relax. Anxiety raises your blood pressure and can cause the bleeding to worsen or fail to resolve. 
  2. Sit up to keep your head above your heart.
  3. Lean slightly forward (not backward) so the blood won’t drain in the back of the throat.
  4. If available, you may want to apply a nasal decongestant spray, which shrinks blood vessels and helps stop bleeding.
  5. Pinch the soft portions of the nose (i.e., nostrils), NOT the nasal bones. You want to apply pressure to the site of the nosebleed.
  6. You may consider placing an icepack on the back of your neck.
  7. Hold pressure for at least 5 minutes and up to 30 minutes. Seek medical attention if the nosebleed continues after 30 minutes of pressure, or continues or worsens despite holding pressure. This can be the best way to stop nose bleeds.
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How to Prevent Nosebleeds

Now that you can stop a nosebleed, how do you prevent them? Moisturizing with a nasal moisturizer oil or gel can be helpful. This is especially useful during the dry Winter months. Even if the tip of your nose hurts, avoid scratching the inside of your nose. Your septum is one of the most vascular parts of the body, so you can easily cause it to bleed. 

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