A nosebleed (also called epistaxis) is the loss of blood from the tissue that lines the inside of your nose and are common. Almost 60% of people will have at least one nosebleed in their lifetime. The location of the nose in the middle of the face and the large number of blood vessels close to the surface in the lining of your nose make it an easy target for injury and nosebleeds.
Types
1. Anterior Nosebleed
An anterior nosebleed starts in the front of the nose on the lower part of the wall that separates the two sides of the nose (called the septum). Capillaries and small blood vessels in this front area of the nose are fragile and can easily break and bleed. This is the most common type of nosebleed and is usually not serious. These nosebleeds are more common in children and are usually able to be treated at home.
2. Posterior Nosebleed
A posterior nosebleed occurs deep inside the nose. This nosebleed is caused by a bleed in larger blood vessels in the back part of the nose near the throat. This can be a more serious nosebleed than an anterior nosebleed. It can result in heavy bleeding, which may flow down the back of the throat. You may need medical attention right away for this type of nosebleed. This type of nosebleed is more common in adults.
Treatments:
Treatments depend on the cause and could include:
• Nasal packing: Gauze, special nasal sponges or foam or an inflatable latex balloon is inserted into your nose to create pressure at the site of the bleed. The material is often left in place for 24 to 48 hours before being removed by a healthcare professional.
• Cauterization: This procedure involves applying a chemical substance (silver nitrate) or heat energy (electrocautery) to seal the bleeding blood vessel. A local anaesthetic is sprayed in the nostril first to numb the inside of your nose.
• Medication adjustments/ New prescriptions: Reducing or stopping the amount of blood thinning medications can be helpful. In addition, medications for controlling blood pressure may be necessary. Tranexamic (Lystedaâ), a medication to help blood clot, may be prescribed.
• Foreign body removal if this is the cause of the nose bleed.
• Surgical repair of a broken nose or correction of a deviated septum if this is the cause of the nosebleed.
• Ligation: In this procedure, the culprit blood vessel is tied off to stop the bleeding.
