Slowing down the flow of blood. Push your head forward and nostrils together. © Adobe Stock / bydvvid
Most of the time, a nosebleed looks worse than it is – and it can be stopped quickly. But after 20 minutes it gets critical. This is how you know that you should see a doctor.
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Every second person has had a nosebleed
Whether through a strong nose, sniffing, simple nose picking or dry mucous membranes – about every second person has had a nosebleed. According to the latest hospital statistics from the Federal Statistical Office, nosebleeds were treated as inpatients more than 40,000 times in 2019.
Act in the event of a fall
Nosebleeds often stop after a few minutes. If this is not the case, there is a risk of excessive blood loss. For adults, medical assistance is a must after 20 minutes, for children earlier. Help is more needed if the bleeding is very heavy, the nose or face is injured, for example after a fall, or watery fluid comes out of the nose.
Normal in some phases
In pregnant women, children and adolescents, the nose may bleed faster. This is mostly harmless. Blood is supplied to the mucous membranes better during pregnancy. Growing young people can cause nosebleeds.
Know other triggers
Nosebleeds can be a symptom of an illness or can be triggered by medication. In the case of high blood pressure, for example, according to a large-scale study from South Korea, it appears to be more common and more severe than in people without this risk. Blood thinners such as acetylsalicylic acid in aspirin or phenprocoumon in Marcumar also promote nosebleeds.
Do not tilt your head back
If it works: sit upright. This lowers the blood pressure in the head. Important: let your head hang forward, do not lean back. Otherwise, the blood flows through the throat and esophagus into the stomach, which can cause nausea and vomiting.
Tip: Squeeze your nostrils together. This will stop the bleeding faster. If you put a cold rag on the back of your neck, the vessels in the nose constrict. If the blood runs more often, have a doctor clarify the cause.
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