Getting a nosebleed out of the blue can range from annoying to frightening, depending on how bad it is. There are a number of things you can do to avoid getting a nosebleed.
Most nosebleeds occur toward the front of the nose; this is where there are many capillaries. And there are numerous reasons a nosebleed occurs. Here are some steps you can take to avoid getting a nosebleed.
Dryness - Keep Your Nose Moist
One major reason people get a nosebleed is from dryness, but dryness can be caused from several reasons. One reason is taking cold or hay fever medicine. Any medicine that stops your nose from running, causes your nose to become very dry. These are called antihistamines and are found in just about–but not all–cold, flu and hay fever medicines. If you need to take an antihistamine, than make sure you keep your nose moist or you could get a nosebleed.
A good way to really get your nose moist is to boil some water. As it boils, carefully breathe in the steam. Just don’t burn your face. You can make your own home humidifier by boiling water and letting the steam circulate through the house, this works as good as a humidifier or a vaporizer. Having a humidifier in the winter is also a good idea.
Another way to keep your nose moist is to use saline type products directly in your nose. One product that has helped me to keep me comfortable in the driest conditions is a product called Ayr (pronounced air) by B. F. Ascher and Co. Inc. You can use a spray or the gel. A good product is Ayr Saline Nasal gel. A nurse once told me not to use petroleum based products like Vaseline as it inhibits the airflow. Keeping your nose moist is the most important part of avoiding a nosebleed.
Don’t Blow Your Nose So Much
Well here you are, you have a runny nose from allergies or a cold and you don’t want to take an antihistamine. Your nose is running and all you can do is constantly blow your nose. That can irritate your nose until you get a nosebleed. You should just use Kleenex and sort of dab your nose or you can actually put a little Kleenex in a nostril until this passes. The more you blow your nose, the more you aggravate it. This is why, many times after a cold, you will get a nosebleed.
Don’t Blow Your Nose so Hard
This is even worse: blowing as hard as you can, as if your nose was a trumpet or tuba. Even if your nose is totally stuffed up, don’t blow it so hard. This can certainly cause a nosebleed. If you have a stuffy nose, the best time to blow your nose is after a shower, which adds steam to your environment. Using the above-mentioned boiling water and inhaling the steam method also works very well. This will not only moisten your nose, but clear it as well. Once again, be careful not to burn your face.
You can also try using a decongestant like Afrin spray. Be careful when using a decongestant spray, however, as you can actually become addicted to it. You might be tempted to use it at the first sign of a stuffy nose, and then your body becomes addicted to it, making your nose stuffy more often. There are also Breathe Right nasal strips; these work great at night. If you do suffer from nosebleeds, and you don’t even want to blow your stuffy nose, try to make it moister first by putting in some of the saline products like the above-mentioned Ayr. Then you can use steam as well–and if you still need to blow your nose, at least now it won’t be so dry.
Don’t Pick Your Nose
You might have heard this as a little kid. But for kids and adults alike this is one of the main reasons for getting a nosebleed. The same is true for rubbing your nose hard if it is itchy. When your nose is dry to begin with, and then you rub it across when it itches, it can start a nosebleed.
Other Reasons For Getting a Nosebleed
There are other reasons people get a nosebleed other than an injury.
· High blood pressure can also be the cause of getting a nosebleed.
· Low in vitamin K. Vitamin K helps the blood coagulate; being low in vitamin K can be a possibility for getting a nosebleed. If you are taking a blood thinner like Warfarin, make sure you talk to your doctor about eating anything or taking vitamins that contain vitamin K.
· Too much Aspirin can also thin the blood.
Other Natural Remedies for Nasal Problems
You can keep your nose clean using a saline solution or salt water. There is also the Neti-pot you can use for keeping your nose clean. Eating a spicy meal with peppers can also clear a stuffy nose nicely.
The hay fever season is a bad time of year; your nose gets stuffy, runny and stuffy again. And you are probably out in the wind. All of these factors can dry your nose to the point of a nosebleed. Mid winter, your furnace is on and the house is much drier than usual. Winter colds and the furnace together can really dry out your nose to the point of a nosebleed.
Keep your nose moist, try and clear it gently when it gets stuffy, and remember when taking antihistamines to pay closer attention. These tips should help from getting so many nosebleeds.
My experience with the Neti-pot
