Nose Bleeds

ENT Specialists

ENTs and Allergy Clinics located in Salt Lake City, UT; Murray, UT; Tooele, UT; Draper, UT; & West Jordan, UT

Nosebleeds are often scary because they produce such a large amount of blood. But most aren’t serious, and they’re easily stopped at home. The team at ENT Specialists in Salt Lake City, Murray, Draper and Tooele, Utah, works with patients who have recurrent nosebleeds, getting to the source of the problem and providing treatment that prevents ongoing nosebleeds. If you need treatment for nosebleeds, call one of the offices or schedule an appointment online.

Nose Bleeds Q & A

What causes nosebleeds?

Nosebleeds occur when blood vessels in the lining of your nose rupture. The top two causes of nosebleeds are nose picking and dry air that dehydrates your nasal membranes. Other causes include:

Trauma
Allergies
Foreign body in the nose
Acute and chronic sinusitis
Nonallergic rhinitis
Bleeding disorders
Deviated septum
Nasal sprays
Blood thinners

Though not as common, nosebleeds may also develop due to nasal polyps or tumors and underlying conditions such as leukemia and immune thrombocytopenia.

Are there different types of nosebleeds?

There are two types of nosebleeds, anterior and posterior:

Anterior nosebleeds

Anterior nosebleeds start in the front of your nose where there are many small blood vessels. This is the most common type of nosebleed and it’s seldom a serious problem.

Posterior nosebleeds

This type of nosebleed originates deep inside your nose, when a large blood vessel near the throat ruptures. A posterior nosebleed can cause heavy bleeding and usually requires medical attention.

Can I treat a nosebleed at home?

In most cases, you can treat nosebleeds at home because they’re usually in the front of your nose. You can stop the bleeding by:

Pinching the bottom of your nose for 15 minutes
Using four sprays of Neo-Synephrine® or Afrin® to constrict blood vessels
Repeating the first two steps if your nose keeps bleeding

If your nose is still bleeding after the second attempt to stop it, keep pinching your nose (as if you’re trying to plug your nose) and seek medical attention.

You also need medical attention if you lose a lot of blood, have difficulty breathing, or throw up blood after swallowing a large amount.

How do ENT providers treat a nosebleed?

The team at ENT Specialists works with patients who have recurrent or severe nosebleeds. Your provider carefully evaluates your nose and your overall health to identify any underlying nasal or health conditions that may cause your nosebleeds.

To treat your nosebleed, they use a vasoconstrictor and nasal packing to stop the bleeding. There are different types of packing materials, some are removed later, while others dissolve over time.

If packing doesn’t stop the bleeding, your provider performs an embolization, using heat to cauterize the blood vessels. Patients with a history of severe, recurrent nosebleeds may receive embolization for their initial treatment.

If you have frequent or severe nosebleeds, call ENT Specialists or book an appointment online.

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