Nosebleeds

How serious are they? And should you worry about it, especially in winter?

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Nosebleeds are quite common and can sometimes be scary. In fact, about 60% of people suffer from at least one nosebleed in their lifetime. Fortunately, only 10% require medical attention.

Most nosebleeds, known as epistaxis, can be stopped with self-care measures. But if you have a nosebleed that lasts longer than 20 minutes, you should contact your doctor or go to an emergency room (ER). Even so, most nosebleeds aren’t serious and can be treated with conservative measures, reveals a new research.

The researchers set out to document trends in the types of care provided and subsequent outcomes for patients admitted to ERs with nosebleeds that were spontaneous or had no known cause. The researchers analyzed hospital data on more than 57,000 patients.

In almost 39% of patients, nosebleeds resolved with little or no treatment, according to the study. Another 53% were successfully treated by cauterizing (burning) the broken blood vessels using electricity or the chemical silver nitrate, or by packing the nose with cotton, gauze or similar materials.

Why Nosebleeds?

The nose contains many small blood vessels that lie close to the surface, making them easy to rupture, particularly in the winter when the arid air dries out the nostrils. Breathing further dries and irritates the membranes lining the nose, as can colds and allergies. Crusts form and can bleed when aggravated by rubbing, picking or blowing the nose.