Tips for preventing chronic nosebleeds
12 a.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Every morning, 7-year old Reed Dady gets ready for school. He practices his spelling words, then packs up his books. But during the cooler months and allergy season, he includes some extras.
"We send a Ziplock bag to school every day with a bottle of saline, a package of Kleenex, some Q-tips and a tube of Neosporin," mom Allison Dady said.
Not items most kids take to school, but when you suffer from chronic nosebleeds like Reed, you never forget them.
He's not alone. Experts say allergens like pollen and indoor heat can make people who are prone to nosebleeds downright miserable.
"It's the drying effect of the heat in the house and that dryness causes crusting and dryness of the nose which otherwise should moisten and humidify the air that you breath in," ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Achal Dhruva said.
Fast Facts
- Up to 60 percent of Americans experience one or more nosebleeds during their lives.
- People with nasal allergies may be at higher risk for nosebleeds.
- Nosebleeds are also more common in colder, drier months. This time of year is sometimes referred to as "nosebleed season."
- Most nosebleeds can be treated at home with some simple remedies.
General information on nosebleeds is available from the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.
Irritants make blood vessels in the nose very fragile. For Reed, a simple swipe to the nose can cause a gushing nosebleed. Doctors recommend using over-the-counter saline spray in the morning and rubbing petroleum jelly in your nose at night. But if you still experience a nosebleed, experts say you can stop most of them yourself.
"If you're out on your own and you're at home and you notice that you're bleeding or your child is bleeding, first thing to do, you're right, there is put pressure on the nose and keep it there for five minutes," Dhruva said.
Reed's nosebleeds are getting better and he's now able to focus on the activities he loves most.
Doctors caution that if a nosebleed lasts longer than five minutes, try a nasal decongestant spray. If that doesn't work, seek medical attention. Chronic nosebleeds may require doctors to cauterize or seal off blood vessels.
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