I Get Severe, Spontaneous Nosebleeds on Occasion: Should I See a Doctor?

Your nose is more than just the organ that sits in the middle of your face for smelling and breathing. It forms a defense mechanism against allergens (the substances that lead to allergic reactions), it moisturizes the air that comes into your body and helps prevent dirt and other particles from getting past it. It also plays a key role in your facial expressions, helping to demonstrate a range of emotions.

Nosebleeds, also known as epistaxis, are a common problem that almost everyone has dealt with at some point (about 6 in 10 people will get one). They are generally simple to treat. However, if they involve a lot of blood and happen more often than they should, they could indicate other issues that require medical attention.

Residents of the Lake Oswego, Oregon, area looking for help with nosebleeds or other nasal problems can get help from the medical team at Lake Grove ENT.

Nosebleed causes

Epistaxis can occur in one of two ways: from the front (anterior) or the back (posterior) of your nose. Anterior bleeds are often the result of anything that breaks the many blood vessels in that area, while posterior bleeds are rarer and more common in older people due to injuries and people with hypertension. 

Many nosebleeds are spontaneous and asymptomatic (occurring with no known cause), but factors that can lead to them include dry climate, regular aspirin use, sinus infections, nasal sprays, upper respiratory infections, and some blood thinners.

When it requires medical attention

The reasons to get to visit us for nosebleeds vary if it’s for a child or adult:

In children

For kids, if the nosebleed doesn’t stop after applying pressure on it for 20 minutes or more, if there’s a foreign object causing the bleeding, or if the bleeding also comes with dizziness, fatigue, vomiting, or breathing issues.

In adults

The 20 minutes of nonstop bleeding also applies to adults, but so does excessive bleeding (a cup or more), blood dripping down the throat leading to breathing problems, gagging or vomiting, being accompanied by a head injury, or bleeding from other parts of your body.

Frequent nosebleeds should generally be examined by a doctor. They can also be a sign of nasal polyps or other growths, which need to be treated. 

How it can be treated

If we have to help with epistaxis, here are some ways we can stop bleeding and help treat the underlying issues:

• Cauterization: using heat energy or silver nitrate to seal the damaged blood vessels

• Nasal packing: using foam, nasal sponges, a latex balloon, or gauze to apply pressure on the wound

• Adjustments of medications: blood thinning medications can be reduced to lower the risk

• Removing objects: getting any foreign bodies out of your nose to treat the bleeding

• Ligation: tie off the blood vessel to prevent more bleeding

• Surgery: a septoplasty if it’s due to a deviated septum

Nosebleeds are generally harmless, but if they continue and become a problem, make an appointment with the team at Lake Grove ENT today.