When Should You be Worried about Nosebleeds?

Most people have experienced a nosebleed before. They do not tend to be a sign of anything serious, and they can usually be treated at home. However, there are cases whereby nosebleeds should result in you taking a trip to the ENT doctor. The trouble is that it can be difficult to know when a nosebleed is serious and when it isn’t. With that being said, continue reading to discover some of the signs that you should be on the lookout for. 

What causes a nosebleed?

There are a number of different causes of a nosebleed. The inside of a nose is delicate, and so nosebleeds tend to occur when it has been damaged. This could be because of the inside of your nose is too dry, which can happen because of a change in air temperature. This may also occur because you have blown your nose too hard or because you have picked your nose. 

Nosebleeds that tend to demand medical attention come from inside of the nose, and they tend to impact adults rather than children. They can be caused by certain types of medicine, such as warfarin. They can also happen due to conditions that impact blood vessels or how the blood clots, as well as high blood pressure and a broken nose or injury. There are also cases whereby the cause of a nosebleed simply cannot be determined. 

When should you see an ENT doctor about a nosebleed?

There are a number of different scenarios whereby you should get medical care immediately if you have a nose bleed. This includes if the nose bleed lasts for more than 20 minutes, even when pressure is applied. You should also get medical attention if it impacts your ability to breathe and there is a greater amount of blood than what you would expect from a nosebleed. Aside from this, you should definitely get medical attention right away if you have gone through something traumatic or have experienced an injury, if the nosebleed has happened because you have been involved in a car accident. 

What about when children have nosebleeds?

There are also cases whereby you should see a doctor if your child is having a nosebleed. This includes cases whereby your child’s nose bleeding won’t stop, even if you have tried to put pressure on your child’s nose for ten minutes at a time. You should also take your child to see a doctor if the nosebleed has occurred because of an injury or fall, as well as cases whereby your child’s nose is bleeding heavily and/or your child feels weak or dizzy. No matter how old your child is, if your child gets nosebleeds on a regular occasion, you should see an ENT doctor to get to the bottom of this. It is also important to see a doctor if your child bleeds from other parts of his or her body, the gums.

Who may get serious nosebleeds?

The occasional nosebleed is typically nothing for you to fret about. However, if you have a certain type of health condition or you take specific medications, your nosebleed may be more serious, and so seeking medical help right away is the only answer. For example, blood thinners, like aspirin or warfarin can result in your bleeding more than you typically would. If you were to get a nosebleed while on one of these medications, you may not be able to stop the bleeding on your own. In some instances, a doctor may need to put packing in your nose to stop the bleeding. 

It is rare, but there are incidents whereby nosebleeds can be caused by a bleeding disorder. If you have one, your blood may not clot as it should. If you are bleeding from your gums and/or your blooding is hard to stop, or if you find you are bleeding only from very minor cuts, it is important to make sure you see a doctor right away. 

Contact Mountain Ear, Nose & Throat Associates today if you’re worried about your nosebleeds

If you are worried about the nosebleeds that you or a loved one has been having, we recommend getting in touch with Mountain Ear, Nose & Throat Associates as soon as possible. The numbers that you need are as follows, call us today at Sylva: 828-586-7474, Franklin: 828-524-5599, Murphy: 828-835-1014, New Asheville: 828-458-8100. We are always happy to answer any queries that you may have, no matter how big or small, so please do not hesitate to get in touch.