Nose Bleeding — usually simple, occasionally serious.

Overview

Anterior nosebleeds are the common kind: dry air, an irritated little patch on the septum, a sneeze, a pick. These you can almost always manage at home.

Posterior nosebleeds come from deeper vessels and can be heavier. They are more common in older adults, often with high blood pressure or anti-coagulant medication. These need a proper examination and sometimes packing or endoscopic cautery.

Symptoms

• Bleeding from one nostril (or occasionally both)
• Blood running down the back of the throat
• Repeated, short, easily-controlled bleeds (anterior pattern)
• A heavy bleed that doesn't stop with pinching (posterior pattern)
• A history of allergy or daily nasal sprays in the area

Common Causes

• Dry air, especially with air-conditioning or heating
• Nose picking or vigorous nose blowing
• Allergic rhinitis with chronic inflammation
• High blood pressure and blood-thinning medications
• Deviated septum, polyps, or rarely a tumour

Treatment Options

• First aid: lean forward, pinch the soft part of the nose for 10 minutes
• Topical creams or sprays to settle a chronically dry septum
• Silver-nitrate or electrocautery to seal a culprit vessel
• Endoscopic identification and cauterisation for posterior bleeds
• Anterior or posterior packing in severe cases

When to See an ENT

Any nosebleed lasting more than 20 minutes despite firm pinching, recurrent bleeds more than once a week, bleeding with dizziness, or bleeding while on blood thinners should be seen urgently. We have the equipment and experience to find and treat the source the same day.