Home Treatment for Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds are typically thought of being a childhood problem, but they're actually common in older people -- and they can be more serious the older you get.

Most nosebleeds can be treated effectively with home remedies. Some, though, need emergency care and may be a sign of serious  underlying problem.

Anterior and Posterior

Nosebleeds come in two types, and the causes, severity, and treatment options differ:

• Anterior nosebleeds. These involves bleeding from the front of the nose. They account for more than 80 percent of all nosebleeds but are generally not serious. It originate in one of the tiny, blood-rich vessels that run through the front of the nose. Dry air and trauma to the nose are the main causes.Blood thinning medications, which include aspirin and anticoagulants, can make you more susceptible to them. You can treat most of them at home. If you have recurrent anterior nosebleeds, see your doctor. He or she may recommend that you have the vessel that's causing the problem cauterized. This procedure creates a seal on the vessel by burning  it with silver nitrate, electric current, or a laser beam. In rare situations, doctors perform a septoplasty, a surgical procedure that straightens the wall of cartilage between your nostrils. A bent septum can cause anterior nosebleeds to recur.


• Posterior nosebleeds. These nosebleeds are more serious but less common.  They occur when one of the large vessels in the inner portion of your nose breaks.Blood streams down the nasal cavity into the throat rather than out the nostril, so blood loss is more difficult to monitor. Home treatment won't stop the bleeding -- a trip to the emergency room is necessary. At the emergency room, doctors typically tries to stop the bleeding by inserting a strip of petroleum jelly soaked gauze, called a "posterior pack", deep into the nostril.
  Rarely, the posterior pack procedure fails to stop the bleeding. Then, doctors may surgically tie off (ligate) the bleeding vessel. A short hospital stay usually follows either procedure.

A Red Flag

Nosebleeds happen to people of all ages, but they occur most commonly in adult males over age 50. Even for older adults, most anterior nosebleeds can usually be treated at home.

For all age groups, though, posterior and recurring anterior nosebleeds can be a sign of other health problems, including:

• Anteriosclerosis. This is the thickening and the hardening of the artery walls, which makes them suscpetible to cracking. Anteriosclerosis occurs more often in older adults than in younger people.


• High blood pressure (hypertension). This common condition causes damage to arteries and creates higher pressure in them, making them more prone to rupturing. Recurrent nosebleeds or those accompanied by a headache could be an indicator of hypertension and should be treated immediately at the emergency room.


• Bleeding disorders. Clotting problems and low platelet counts can have serious underlying causes, such as liver or bone marrow problems or leukemia.

Stop the bleeding. Most nosebleeds are just shirt-staining annoyances. But they can be an important warning sign of serious health problems. That's why it is important to stop the bleeding and be aware of possible causes.

Source: Mayo Clinic