What’s Causing My Summer Nosebleed?

Nosebleeds are common in Doylestown, particularly among children between the ages of 2 and 10 and the elderly. About 60 percent of Pennsylvanians will experience a nosebleed at some point in their lives. The sight of blood pouring from your nose can be frightening but is rarely cause for alarm.

Proper Treatment for a Nosebleed

Nosebleeds (or epistaxis if you’re into medical jargon) occur when tiny blood vessels lining the inside of your nose burst. This can be caused by a variety of factors; two of the most common are dry air and nose picking. Other causes include trauma, sinus infections, allergies, deviated septum, hypertension, bleeding disorders, chemical irritants, overuse of decongestant nasal sprays, high altitudes and extreme temperatures. This is why nosebleeds in Pennsylvania are most common during the summer and winter months.

The majority of nosebleeds aren’t serious, though in rare cases they may indicate an underlying disease. Your Doylestown ENT doctor recommends seeking medical attention in the following instances:

• You have experienced an injury following an accident
• Bleeding is heavier than expected
• Bleeding interferes with breathing
• Your nosebleed lasts longer than 30 minutes
• The nosebleed occurs in a child younger than age 2
• You experience frequent nosebleeds

Most summer nosebleeds respond well to treatment at home. The following instructions should help stop the flow of blood.

• Sit down, lean forward and pinch your nostrils together using your thumb and forefinger until the bleeding stops (usually within 15 minutes). Do this for both nostrils, even if you are only experiencing bleeding from one side. Don’t tilt your head backwards; doing so may cause blood to flow down the back of your throat, leading to stomach irritation.
• Avoid blowing your nose for several hours after the bleeding stops and do not pick your nose.
• Keep your head elevated above the level of your heart.
• Avoid venturing out if it’s a hot day. This will allow your broken blood vessels to heal.

If you’ve tried to above steps and your nose is still bleeding, visit your doctor; you may need to have the blood vessel cauterized.

The following tips can help prevent nosebleeds:

• Keep the lining of your nose moist. Try applying petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment several times a day or using a saline nasal spray.
• In particularly dry climates, a humidifier will help moisten the air, reducing the likelihood that your nasal passages will dry out.
• Keep your child’s fingernails trimmed and teach them not to insert objects into their nostrils.
• Avoid forcibly blowing your nose.

If you can’t get your nosebleed to stop or are concerned about their frequency, contact your Pennsylvania ENT specialist for advice.  

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• When Should You See an ENT?
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• Research Shows Thyroid Disease is Overtreated

North Philadelphia ENT Office Locations

Lansdale
2100 N Broad St
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 368-5290
Sellersville
920 Lawn Ave, Suite 7
Sellersville, PA 18960
(215) 453-8900
Spring House
909 Sumneytown Pike, #103
Spring House, PA 19477
(215) 646-2118