Nosebleeds (epistaxis)
	Where does the blood in a nosebleed come from? The blood usually comes from a blood vessel located in the front of the nasal septum or further back in the nasal cavity. Why does a nosebleed occur? Picking the nose A blow to the nose or damage to the mucous membrane  A cold or flu A nasal allergy Dry mucous membranes in the nose due to a stuffy indoor atmosphere Hypertension (high blood pressure)  Certain kinds of medication; for instance, products which reduce the viscosity of blood (such as aspirin and drugs used to treat arthritis) Because of exposure to chemicals that may irritate the mucous membranes Because of deviation of the nasal partition (septum) Most nosebleeds occur for no obvious reason. Other rare causes of nosebleeds Blood diseases such as leukaemia or haemophilia Tumors in the nasal cavity Osler's disease  Danger signals in a severe nosebleed Heavy bleeding Palpitation, shortness of breath and turning pale Swallowing large amounts of blood, which will cause you to vomit  How to avoid nosebleeds Avoid damaging the nose and excessive nose picking Seek medical treatment for the disease causing the nosebleeds Get a humidifier if you live in a dry climate or at high altitude What to do if you get a nosebleed  Sit in an upright position with your head bent forward Hold the tip of your nose for 5 minutes while breathing through the mouth If the bleeding stops, then returns, hold your nose for 8-10 minutes. This will allow the blood to clot Applying an ice pack to your nose may help  Good advice Do not blow your nose for the next 12 hours after the bleeding has stopped. This will help the dried blood to remain in place Do not swallow the blood. It can cause you to become nauseous and throw up, or could conceal a greater blood loss If you frequently suffer from nosebleeds you should seek help from your doctor  The most likely development The bleeding usually stops if you follow the above instructions Heavy bleeding may require hospital treatment and, in rare cases, a blood transfusion  How is heavy bleeding treated and what kind of medication can be given? Contact your doctor if the advice described above does not help stop the bleeding.  Initially, the doctor will try to stop the bleeding by using something that will make the blood vessels contract. When the bleeding has stopped, the doctor may choose to cauterise the source of the bleeding with a chemical to prevent it bleeding again.  If the bleeding fails to stop, it may be necessary to put a pack in the nose.  In rare cases, an operation may be necessary to tie off the blood vessel that supplies the bleeding area. If the bleeding is caused by another disease, such as increased blood pressure, it is very important to seek treatment to avoid recurrence of nose-bleeding.