How to Stop a Bloody Nose

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow to Stop a Bloody NoseAfter It StopsWhen to See a ProviderIf the Bleeding Won’t StopPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How to Stop a Bloody Nose

After It Stops

When to See a Provider

If the Bleeding Won’t Stop

Prevention

Having abloody nose(also known asepistaxis) can be unnerving, but in most cases, nosebleeds are easy to stop and rarely serious.While you’ll want to stop a bloody nose right away, it’s important to do it properly and safely.

There are misconceptions about the right way to stop a nosebleed (such as leaning backward) that can actually be dangerous.

This article explores what to do if your nose (or someone else’s) starts bleeding, what to do if bleeding won’t stop, and when to see a healthcare professional. It also discusses what to do if nosebleeds are recurrent.

Around 60% of people will experience a bloody nose in their lifetime. Nosebleeds are most common in children from 2 to 10 years old and in adults age 50 to 80.

Fortunately, basic first aid measures are usually all that’s needed to stop a bloody nose.Here’s what to do if you experience one.

Lean Forward, Not Back

One of the biggest myths in first aid is that you shouldlean back with a bloody nose, but the best thing to do is to lean slightly forward.The blood needs to go somewhere, and if the person leans back or lies down, it will most likely go down their throat.

Blood could get into the windpipe, causing a blocked airway. Blood may also enter the stomach and irritate its lining, possibly causing the person to vomit.

Pinch the Nose (Correctly)

Most people instinctively pinch the nose during a nosebleed, but take care to do it in the right way.

Pinch the person’s nose just below thebony bridge.This is the lower third of the person’s nose.Don’t pinch just the nostrils closed. Your fingers should be on the bone as well as the soft tissue.

If there is still blood flowing, adjust your grip. There should not be visible bleeding while you are holding the nose. The person should breathe through their mouth.

Pinching the nose properly stops or slows the blood flow to allow aclotto form and stop the bleeding. Hold the nose for 15 to 20 minutes.

Stay Upright

Always sit up straight when your nose is bleeding, and never lie on your back. As with tilting your head backward, this can cause the blood to go down your throat into your stomach and potentially cause choking or vomiting.

Keeping your head above your heart also reduces blood pressure in the veins of your nose, which discourages bleeding.

Additional Tips

Other things you can do when someone has a nosebleed include the following:

How to Stop Different Kinds of Bleeding

After the Nosebleed Stops

Once you have stopped the bleeding, it’s important to let the blood vessels constrict so the bleeding doesn’t start again. If you were able to stop the initial bleeding and your nose starts bleeding again, repeat the steps again.

After a nosebleed, you should avoid blowing your nose for at least two days. If you have a history of high blood pressure, it may be worth checking your blood pressure. Try not to place tissues into your nose, avoid heavy lifting, and do not lie flat.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

When adults get nosebleeds, it could be an indicator of a more severe medical problem, especially if they are frequent.Tell your healthcare provider if you have gotten a bloody nose often, especially without physical trauma. Some causes of nosebleeds include:

If a nosebleed doesn’t stop after the second or third try to apply pressure, it’s time to go to the emergency room.

If the bleeding is rapid and the person is losing a lot of blood (more than a cup), if the blood is going down the back of the throat, if the person has vomited up blood, or if at any time they feel lightheaded, dizzy, or weak, go to the emergency room orcall 911.

For nose bleeds that are difficult to manage, healthcare professionals can cauterize the bleeding blood vessel.

Emergency Signs

Abloody nose is a medical emergencywhen:

How to Prevent Nosebleeds

If you or your child are prone to getting bloody noses, here are ways to prevent them:

Summary

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nemours Foundation. Kids Health.Nosebleeds.American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, ENT Health.Nosebleeds.Beck R, Sorge M, Schneider A, Dietz A.Current approaches to epistaxis treatment in primary and secondary care.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(1-02):12-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0012Smith J, Hanson J, Chowdhury R, Bungard TJ.Community-based management of epistaxis: Who bloody knows?Can Pharm J (Ott). 2019;152(3):164-176. doi:10.1177/1715163519840380Berry D, Carlson JN, Singletary E, Zideman DA, Ring J.Use of cryotherapy for managing epistaxis in the first aid setting: a scoping review.Cureus. 2021;13(5):e14832. doi:10.7759/cureus.14832Beck* R, Sorge* M, Schneider A, Dietz A.Current approaches to epistaxis treatment in primary and secondary care.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(1-2):12-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0012Meccariello G, Georgalas C, Montevecchi F, et al.Management of idiopathic epistaxis in adults: What’s new?Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2019;39(4):211-219. doi:10.14639/0392-100X-2155

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nemours Foundation. Kids Health.Nosebleeds.American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, ENT Health.Nosebleeds.Beck R, Sorge M, Schneider A, Dietz A.Current approaches to epistaxis treatment in primary and secondary care.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(1-02):12-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0012Smith J, Hanson J, Chowdhury R, Bungard TJ.Community-based management of epistaxis: Who bloody knows?Can Pharm J (Ott). 2019;152(3):164-176. doi:10.1177/1715163519840380Berry D, Carlson JN, Singletary E, Zideman DA, Ring J.Use of cryotherapy for managing epistaxis in the first aid setting: a scoping review.Cureus. 2021;13(5):e14832. doi:10.7759/cureus.14832Beck* R, Sorge* M, Schneider A, Dietz A.Current approaches to epistaxis treatment in primary and secondary care.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(1-2):12-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0012Meccariello G, Georgalas C, Montevecchi F, et al.Management of idiopathic epistaxis in adults: What’s new?Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2019;39(4):211-219. doi:10.14639/0392-100X-2155

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Nemours Foundation. Kids Health.Nosebleeds.American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, ENT Health.Nosebleeds.Beck R, Sorge M, Schneider A, Dietz A.Current approaches to epistaxis treatment in primary and secondary care.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(1-02):12-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0012Smith J, Hanson J, Chowdhury R, Bungard TJ.Community-based management of epistaxis: Who bloody knows?Can Pharm J (Ott). 2019;152(3):164-176. doi:10.1177/1715163519840380Berry D, Carlson JN, Singletary E, Zideman DA, Ring J.Use of cryotherapy for managing epistaxis in the first aid setting: a scoping review.Cureus. 2021;13(5):e14832. doi:10.7759/cureus.14832Beck* R, Sorge* M, Schneider A, Dietz A.Current approaches to epistaxis treatment in primary and secondary care.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(1-2):12-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0012Meccariello G, Georgalas C, Montevecchi F, et al.Management of idiopathic epistaxis in adults: What’s new?Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2019;39(4):211-219. doi:10.14639/0392-100X-2155

Nemours Foundation. Kids Health.Nosebleeds.

American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, ENT Health.Nosebleeds.

Beck R, Sorge M, Schneider A, Dietz A.Current approaches to epistaxis treatment in primary and secondary care.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(1-02):12-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0012

Smith J, Hanson J, Chowdhury R, Bungard TJ.Community-based management of epistaxis: Who bloody knows?Can Pharm J (Ott). 2019;152(3):164-176. doi:10.1177/1715163519840380

Berry D, Carlson JN, Singletary E, Zideman DA, Ring J.Use of cryotherapy for managing epistaxis in the first aid setting: a scoping review.Cureus. 2021;13(5):e14832. doi:10.7759/cureus.14832

Beck* R, Sorge* M, Schneider A, Dietz A.Current approaches to epistaxis treatment in primary and secondary care.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(1-2):12-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0012

Meccariello G, Georgalas C, Montevecchi F, et al.Management of idiopathic epistaxis in adults: What’s new?Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2019;39(4):211-219. doi:10.14639/0392-100X-2155

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