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• Sit up or stand – an upright position slows the flow of blood.
• Do not lie down.
• Breathe through your mouth while squeezing the soft portion of the nose between the thumb and index finger for 5-10 minutes to stop blood flow.
• Using a small ball of cotton wool soaked in a nasal decongestant (such as Otrivin, Iliadin or Drixine) will reduce or stop the flow of blood.
If a nosebleed persists your doctor may treat it by using several steps. First, he will use a suction device to remove excess blood is removed with a suction device. A medication soaked cotton ball is then placed in the nose to anaesthetise and shrink the nasal membrane.
If the bleeding still persists, your doctor may recommend chemical or electrical cautery. If the bleeding persists after cautery, your doctor may gently pack your nose with an inflatable pressure pack. It is more difficult to stop nosebleeds caused by an underlying disease such as hypertension or arteriosclerosis, or that occur far back in the nose.
Your doctor will probably refer you to a specialist who will place a special pack in your nasal cavity during a procedure performed in hospital. Should the nasal pack fail to stop the bleeding, you may need to undergo cautery or a procedure that ties off of the main blood supply artery inside the nose in theatre under anaesthesia.Reviewed by Dr Gary Kroukamp MBCHB, FCORL (SA) Ear, Nose and throat specialist in private practice, Claremont Cape Town. February 2015.
Previously Reviewed by Prof Don du Toit (M.B.Ch.B) (D.Phil.) (PhD) (FCS) (FRCS).
