Monday, December 19, 2011

Nosebleeds in North Texas: notes on Epistaxis from the Texas ENT Center BLOG

   With the cold and dry winter weather now in North Texas, we see a higher incidence of spontaneous nose bleeds as a result of nasal mucosa drying out and cracking.  Heater use is common during December thru February and it further dries the air we breathe indoors.  In this blog post, we want to help remind folks on how to avoid nose bleeds this winter.

Tips to avoid nose bleeds:
1. Keep heater thermostat at 68 degrees or lower.
     (higher temperatures cause more dryness)
2. Use a humidifier
     (ie. in your office or bedroom)
3. Apply a moisturizing agent to your nasal mucosa
     * Options include saline gel (quickly evaporates) and vaseline (difficult to apply),
         so I often recommend topical antibiotic ointment as a good compromise.

Medications and medical conditions that can cause more serious nose bleeds:
   Many medications cause the blood to thin, either as a therapeutic agent or as
   an incidental side effect.  These can dramatically increase the severity of a
   simple nose bleed.
   * Coumadin (Warfarin), Plavix and Aspirin are commonly prescribed blood thinners.
   * Vitamin E, Ginko, and garlic tablets can thin the blood to a lesser degree.
   * High blood pressure

How do you stop a typical nosebleed?
1. Pinch the nostrils (soft parts of your nose) together and compress them firmly into
    your face, hold in place for at least 10 minutes.  Repeat if necessary.
2. You can also use Afrin or Neo-Sinephrine nasal spray prior to the above maneuver,
    which will assist in constricting the bleeding vessels.
     (If used for more then 3 days at a time, Afrin or Neo-Sinephrine can cause addiction with
     severe rebound nasal congestion.  Thus, avoid using these sprays long-term)
3. If you nose bleed is to severe and rapid, or if this this maneuver fails on the second
     or third attempt, then contact your physician or visit the emergency room.
 
For more information on nosebleeds, click here.