Nosebleeds: what you need to know

Nosebleeds affect everyone, regardless of age. Nosebleeds are generally benign and temporary, but there are many causes. With the right treatment, you can prevent and stop bleeding from the nasal cavity.

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However, when it becomes frequent, nosebleeds can hide another pathology and be a symptom of a more serious illness. It is even associated with cancer or stroke in the elderly.

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What should I do if I have a nosebleed? Why does it happen, and when should you seek medical attention? Tessan answers all your questions!

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What is a nosebleed?

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A nosebleed is a profuse flow of blood from the nasal cavity or, in some cases, the nasal passages.

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In the medical field, we speak of "epistaxis". This is the term used to designate the pathology associated with nosebleeds. Epistaxis is a disorder caused by injury or rupture of the vascular network responsible for irrigating the nasal mucosa. Although not serious, the amount of blood is impressive in most cases. However, you should be alerted when bleeding occurs repeatedly, even in drips.

Epistaxis manifests itself as nasal bleeding from :

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• Either of the nostrils, or of one or both nostrils. This is known as anterior epistaxis.
• Or backwards, meaning that blood flows into the throat through one or both nostrils and out through the mouth. This is known as posterior epistaxis.

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Causes of nosebleeds

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Nosebleeds can have several causes, ranging from the benign to the serious.

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Epistaxis is not serious for your health

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In most cases, nosebleeds are nothing serious. This is called essential epistaxis. These are previous bleeds caused by a mechanical source, such as scratching the nose. They are due to the rupture of small "capillary" blood vessels inside the nasal cavity. This is mainly at the vascular spot, where the arterial systems of the nasal cavity converge.  

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Several factors can cause essential epistaxis:

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• Strong or long exposure to the sun;
• A major physical effort;
• Air that is too dry or too cold, causing dehydration of the nasal cavity;
• The presence of chemical irritants in the air: smoke, tobacco smoke, etc;
• Severe irritation of the nasal septum due to excessive stimulation of the nasal mucosa: scratching the inside of the nose, violent blowing of the nose, etc.

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Essential epistaxis is the most common case of nosebleed. It affects children aged 2 to 10, teenagers, adults and the elderly.

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Serious causes of nasal problems

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Some cases of nosebleeds can be dangerous. This is the case with posterior epistaxis, which combines both posterior and anterior bleeding.

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Bleeding from both the nose and throat can be localized: following head trauma, inflammation, allergic rhinitis, ENT infection, tumors in the nasal cavity, etc. But it can also be generalized, accompanied by a general deterioration in health. But it can also be of generalized origin, accompanied by a general deterioration in health: fatigue, low or high blood pressure, vascular disease, hemophilia or other hemorrhagic diseases.

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In this case, epistaxis requires special care, or even hospitalization.

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I have a nosebleed: treatments and the right steps to take

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How to stop the blood flow? Bleeding can be stopped within five minutes.

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Mucous membranes are fragile, especially those of the nose. Made up of numerous blood vessels, they are subject to abundant blood flow. Here's how to stop the bleeding:

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• Find a place to sit and stay calm, there's no need to panic.
• Tilt your head forward to allow normal blood flow. Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn't tilt your head back. If you do, blood will flow down your throat.
• Use a handkerchief: gently blow your nose just once to evacuate blood clots.
• Pinch your nostril for 5 to 10 minutes between thumb and forefinger. The compression will encourage blood clotting, which will stop the bleeding.
• Compress the wing of your nose again for a few minutes if necessary to stop the bleeding.

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To help stop the bleeding, you can use other products such as absorbent cotton or haemostatic pads. Do not swallow the blood flow, as this may cause vomiting. In the days that follow, we advise you to humidify the air around you, not to use nasal sprays, and not to stick your fingers up your nose.

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Seek medical attention for nosebleeds

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If the epistaxis doesn't stop, it's advisable to seek medical advice, or even contact the emergency room.

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If you are taking anticoagulants or aspirin, consult a doctor within the day. That's why we've set up a teleconsultation service powered by Tessan.

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To prevent an occasional nosebleed, you can consult our doctors in less than 15 minutes.

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For recurrent nosebleeds, you can book an appointment with an ENT within 72 hours using our augmented teleconsultation to carry out a series of tests aimed at identifying the causes of a nasal hemorrhage.

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