Nosebleed - Reasons Why Need To Be Extra Careful!

While nosebleeds are a common problem that most people would have faced at some time or the other in their life, summer is a testing time for many. It is during summers that the nosebleed worsens and people tend to look for ways to manage it. It could be spontaneous, and they may suddenly feel something watery running down their nose, only to touch and see blood on their hands. Though it sounds scary, it is a common problem that many people relate to.

There are two main types of nosebleeds (epistaxis being the medical term) – anterior and posterior. Both occur due to rupture of the blood vessels in the anterior or posterior part of the nose. These blood vessels are extremely fragile and tiny and prone to easy rupture.

Causes:

• External trauma or punch in the face
• High blood pressure
• Extreme cold
• Higher Altitudes
• Summer
• Allergies
• People taking blood thinners

The connection between summers and nosebleeds

We all know that summer brings the dry weather with it. The nose has a protective moist lining, which helps to trap dust particles from the air as they pass through the nose. During summer, given the dry weather, this wet lining stays relatively dry, leading to rupture of the underlying vessels. When noticed, the vessels underlying the mucosa are very fragile and as the dryness increases and the warmth increases, they can easily rupture and bleed.

Summers are also known to increase the incidence of allergies, which again are a cause for nosebleeds. The amount of pollen circulating in the air can be linked to the increase in allergies, which in turn leads to increased nosebleeds. Low humidity in the summer months further adds to the dryness of the mucosa, again worsening the bleeding. What to do? Once you realize you are prone to increased nosebleeds during summer, follow the tips below:

• Avoid direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. While it is not feasible to completely avoid sunlight, it is definitely possible to avoid being out in the sun for long hours at a stretch.
• Use an umbrella so your head is covered and the nose is not directly hit by the sun.
• Keep yourself hydrated and drink lots of water and/or juices
• Wash your nose with cold water
• Use saline nasal rinses to keep the nasal mucosa moist and healthy
• Dip a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar to control the bleeding by inducing clotting
• Use an ice pack on the external nose to keep it cool and moist
• A few drops of lemon juice squeezed into the nostrils when lying down also helps control bleeding.