Chronic Nosebleed Treatment Options

No matter your age, you can always get a nosebleed if you rub your nose too hard or injure it. Nosebleeds, also known as epistaxis, are especially common in children and the elderly, and this messy condition is not normally a cause for concern. However, having frequent nosebleeds that occur more than four times a week is a sign that you should visit a doctor.

An ear nose and throat doctor near you should be able to give you a treatment plan based on what they believe the cause of your nasal bleeding to be. Treatments for nosebleeds range from conventional, at-home therapies to medications.

There are two kinds of nosebleeds, anterior and posterior.

• Anterior Nosebleed: This kind of nosebleed affects the front capillaries and tiny blood vessels in this front of the nose. These vessels are very fragile and can break at little pressure, so this type of nose bleed is not serious. Anterior nosebleeds are common in children, and our pediatric ENT doctor in Los Angeles will tell you these can be treated at home.
• Posterior Nosebleed: A posterior nosebleed is caused by a break in the larger blood vessels in the back part of the nose. These vessels cause heavier bleeding which may flow down the back of the throat. This is more common in adults, and depending on how much blood has been lost, you may need medical attention. This kind of nose bleed can be from trauma or some other external factor.

Keep in mind that nosebleeds do not normally require medical intervention. While they may make you feel like a character in a horror movie, this condition is rarely serious.

Treatments for Nosebleeds

The first thing that any sort of nose doctor is going to suggest is an at-home remedy. This is because they are cheaper and save you and your family the efforts of going to in to an ENT office in Los Angeles.

Stopping a nosebleed at home includes:

• Stay calm. Getting nervous can actually increase the amount your nose bleeds.
• Stay sitting up
• Lean your head forward a little. This will prevent blood from draining down your throat.
• Pinch your nostrils closed. Hold your nostrils shut for 5 to 10 minutes while you breathe through your mouth. This puts pressure on the part of your nose that’s bleeding, stopping the flow of blood.

These are the ways you can treat your nosebleed at home. If your nose is bleeding profusely, like if it’s a posterior nosebleed, you may need professional medical intervention.

If pressure is not helping your nosebleed, you may need to visit a doctor for epistaxis. They can try the following options for epistaxis treatment in Los Angeles:

• Cauterization: Cauterization burns wounds closed, and it also works on broken blood vessels. One trick to heal a bloody nose is to use this method. First, the doctor will numb your nose, then they will use either a heated electronic device or a chemical called silver nitrate to heat and close the broken blood vessel.
• Packing: Another method to stop your nose from bleeding is to use a latex balloon or gauze to pack your nostril. This will put tremendous pressure on the blood vessel and help stop and soak up the blood.

Preventing Nosebleeds

Your nasal specialist will also recommend that you take steps in your everyday life to prevent nosebleeds from happening.

One of the main reasons a nose will start bleeding is if it’s too dry. You can use nasal saline solution or a humidifier in your home to keep the inside of your nose moist. You can also limit the amount of allergy medication you take, as this can dry out the nose.

Seeing an ENT for Your Nasal Issues

If you have frequent nosebleeds or other nasal problems, you may need to be checked out by an ENT doctor at our Los Angeles offices. We can treat a variety of ear, nose, and throat issues like:

• Chronic sore throat
• Vertigo
• Ear infections
• Nasal congestion
• Deviated septum