Causes and prevention of bloody noses

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — As the Miami Valley begins to trade cooler temperatures for warmer, some individuals may find themselves dealing with a bloody nose.

Dr. Rukan Ahmed, primary care physician at Kettering Health Springfield, says there are a number of different things that can cause people to experience a nose bleed. Individuals suffering from seasonal allergies have a possibility to have them.

“If there is a little moisture content in the air, you know, with the seasonal changes, weather changes, humidity changes for certain, you know, if it’s more dry and kind of more arid, then that’s going to lead to more of them,” Ahmed said. “People with allergies, you know, and related inflammation and even, you know, whether or not they’re, you know, scratching at the area.”

“Digital trauma,” more commonly referred to as nose picking, along with facial injuries or respiratory infections can also cause bleeding to occur.

Most bleeds in the front of the nose can be managed by yourself at home. The physician told 2 NEWS ways to combat bloody noses is applying pressure or packing your nostrils with gauze or nasal tampons.

People that have a bleeding disorder or are on blood thinners should be cognizant of what happens.

“Those individuals are at higher risk because it’s going to be harder to stop the bleeding, especially with some of those more conservative methods,” said Ahmed.

If you have tried different methods to attempt the bleeding to end and it does not, you should seek medical attention. Those suffering from a posterior bleed on the back of the nose should automatically seek help.

Medical professionals can provide tools for helping your bleed, such as prescribing a topical medication or using chemical cauterization. In some cases, they can also electrical pottery, a tool that “zaps” any areas of concern. If the bleed is severe, Ahmed says Foley catheters can be used.

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