Home Visit Doctor in Perth Advice to Stop Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds or epistaxis can be an inconvenient and disconcerting issue. They occur when one of the tiny, numerous blood vessels lining the nose bursts. There are many causes of a nosebleed from allergic reactions, injuries, infections, or even putting objects into the nostril. Nosebleeds are more common in children, but fortunately, they are not always an indication of an underlying medical problem. So, here the home visitor doctor in Perth team at After Hours have prepared some advice, so you can understand the causes and treatments for nosebleeds.

Nosebleeds in Children

As mentioned above, nosebleeds are more common in children. This is because the septum or the firm tissue dividing the nose into two nostrils contains very fragile, tiny blood vessels. These can easily burst, and children typically only have a nosebleed from one side. Most children grow out of this, but if the bleeding is prolonged, heavy or will not stop with appropriate measures, you may need an out of hours doctor home visit or a trip to your local medical facility.

The Causes of Nosebleeds

If you suffer a nosebleed, you may feel a sensation of liquid that is flowing down the back of your throat. In addition to the obvious bleeding from one or both your nostrils, you may feel an urge to frequently swallow.

There are various factors that can cause a nosebleed, which can make it a little easier to predict a bleed. These factors include:

• • Infections in the nose lining, adenoids or sinuses • Allergies such as hay fever • Fragile blood vessels that may be triggered by exercise or warm air • High blood pressure • An underlying medical condition, which causes clotting or bleeding • Trauma from an object pushed into the nostril • Injuries caused by a fall, bump or even picking your nose

Managing a Nosebleed

There are several steps to effectively manage a nosebleed. Firstly, you’ll need to reassure the person suffering from a nosebleed, particularly if it is a crying child. Crying can increase the blood flow, worsening the bleed.

Sit the person upright and have them drop their head forward and down. You should then apply mild pressure below the bridge of the nose, on the soft part of the nostrils using your finger and thumb for approximately ten minutes.

Encourage normal breathing through the mouth and loosen any restrictive clothing that may be around the neck. To increase comfort, you may apply a cold pack around the neck or on the forehead.

After ten minutes, release the nostril pressure and check to see if the bleeding has stopped completely. If the bleeding persists, you should seek medical attention.

After suffering a nosebleed, it is important not to blow the nose or stiff for a further fifteen minutes. This will allow time for the blood clot to stabilize. This can be an unpleasant sensation, particularly for younger children, so watch children to ensure that they are not sniffing or picking their nose. Nose picking will prevent the broken blood vessel from healing, and it may burst again.

If you or your child is having frequent nosebleeds, you should seek medical attention to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Nosebleeds can occur as an infection response that requires antibiotic medication or ointments to resolve.

If you’re struggling with frequent nosebleeds or any other health issue and need a home visit doctor, Perth based After Hours is here to help. We provide out of hours doctor home visit services and would be happy to address any of your concerns.

If you would like further guidance to improve your health and wellbeing from an after hours GP, Perth residents should call us.