According to pharmacist Lina Stočkutė-Plytnikė, people usually come to the pharmacy for nosebleeds in three cases: when the bleeding recurs, when the nasal mucosa is dry or cracked, and when blood appears after mechanical irritation, according to a press release from “Gintarinė Pharmacy”.
“Patients usually become concerned when bleeding recurs several times a week or month. They often also complain of itching, burning, crusts in the nose, which easily start to bleed. Such complaints are especially common in the mornings, when having a cold, sneezing due to allergies, blowing the nose harder, or during the heating season,” lists the pharmacist.
Causes – from dry air to medications
Nosebleeds can be caused by local and systemic reasons. Most often, it is related to dry or damaged mucosa, nose picking, strong blowing, trauma, infection, allergy, or anatomical changes in the nose.
The risk of bleeding can also be increased by high blood pressure, blood clotting disorders, certain diseases and medications, especially anticoagulants, platelet function inhibitors, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
“Dry nasal mucosa easily cracks, so even minor irritation can damage superficial capillaries. If a person takes blood-thinning medications, has clotting disorders, or high blood pressure, bleeding may be more frequent, heavier, or harder to stop,” explains L. Stočkutė-Plytnikė.
Recurrent bleeding should not be ignored even in cases where a person has liver or hematological diseases, thrombocytopenia, or other health disorders affecting clotting. In such situations, even minor mucosal damage can result in prolonged bleeding.
What to do when the blood is already flowing?
When bleeding starts, the most important thing is to sit down, tilt the head slightly forward, and breathe through the mouth. Then, the soft part of the nose, not the nasal bone, should be pinched with the thumb and index finger and held continuously for 10–15 minutes.
“You should not check every minute whether the bleeding has stopped, as this prolongs clotting time. If needed, a cold compress can be applied to the bridge of the nose and forehead – this helps reduce vascular permeability. The most important thing is to stay calm, breathe deeply, and properly pinch the nose,” advises the pharmacist.
According to her, one of the most common mistakes is tilting the head back. Also, one should not lie on their back, blow the nose hard after stopping the bleeding, or deeply insert tissues into the nostrils.
“Tilting the head back causes blood to flow into the throat and can cause nausea or vomiting. And blowing the nose hard after bleeding can dislodge the formed clot, so the bleeding will start again,” says L. Stočkutė-Plytnikė.
When is medical help needed?
Most nosebleeds can be stopped at home if the person provides first aid correctly. However, if the bleeding lasts longer than 20–30 minutes, is very heavy, started after head or face trauma, the person feels weak, dizzy, or takes blood-thinning medications, it is necessary to seek medical help.
“Medical help is also needed when bleeding frequently recurs or does not stop even after local procedures. In such cases, nasal tamponade, endoscopic examination, embolization of the bleeding source, or correction of clotting disorders may be required,” notes the pharmacist.
According to her, even cauterization of the blood vessel does not always guarantee that the bleeding will not recur. If the problem returns, the cause must be sought, rather than just stopping the bleeding once.
How to protect the nasal mucosa?
To reduce the risk of bleeding, it is important to regularly moisturize the nasal mucosa. Physiological seawater or isotonic saline solution, nasal gels and ointments, for example with dexpanthenol, are suitable for this. They help maintain moisture, reduce friction, and protect the mucosa, especially if crusts or cracks form in the nose.
“The air in the room should also be moisturized – the ideal relative humidity is about 40–60%. It is also important not to pick the nose, not to tear off crusts, avoid smoking, strong odors, dust, and other irritants,” says L. Stočkutė-Plytnikė.
The pharmacist reminds that nasal drops for congestion should be used cautiously. Vasoconstrictive agents, if used for too long, can dry out the mucosa and cause dependence, so most of them are recommended to be used for no longer than 7 days.
“If the mucosa bleeds often, many crusts form, and the person takes anticoagulants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or other medications that may increase the risk of bleeding, they should consult a doctor about them. Medications should not be changed independently,” summarizes the pharmacist.
Read more “Compensa” starts offering indirect war risk insurance to residents
