Managing Nosebleeds

Causes, treatments and when to worry

- Samantha Rideout

IF BLOOD IS oozing from your nose, the situation might be as serious as its dramatic appearance suggests, but odds are it’s not. The wall between your nostrils is full of tiny vessels that break fairly easily—as a result of bumping your nose or blowing it too hard, for example. Irritation and blockage from allergies, colds or the flu can trigger a nosebleed, too, as can overusing nasal decongestants or breathing dry air.