Typical Treatment for Nose Bleeds

• The cure for a nose bleed depends largely on the cause and type. If the nose starts bleeding after a trauma, seek medical help immediately, as it could indicate a skull fracture.
  
  When dealing with a common nose bleed not caused by trauma, stand with head tilted forward. This lowers the blood pressure in the head and prevents accidental swallowing of the blood. Using the thumb and forefinger, grab the front of your nose, squeezing tightly. If you can breath through your nose, you are not squeezing tight enough. Look in the mirror and see if your skin is blanching. If it is, you have enough pressure on the nose. Watch the clock and hold this pressure for five minutes.
  
  For most common nose bleeds, applying pressure for five minutes will stop the bleeding. This gives the body enough time to start the blood clotting process, which stops the flow of blood. If not, hold your nose for 10 minutes. A cold compress on the bridge of the nose can also help, according to the National Library of Medicine. If you cannot stop the bleeding within 15 minutes, you need to seek medical care.
  
  

Professional Care

• Seek the help of your physician if you cannot stop the bleeding within 15 minutes. If trauma is suspected, your doctor will perform an X-ray to see if the skull has been damaged. If no trauma or damage is present, your physician will probably pack your nose with gauze. This is not something you should do on your own, because getting enough gauze in the right place is difficult. The gauze in the nose should put enough pressure on the artery to stop the bleeding. If this does not work, a catheter in the nose may be used to collect the blood and put pressure on the artery.
  
  If you suffer from chronic nose bleeds, your doctor may cure your condition by cauterizing the blood vessels in your nose. This involves heating them so that they are permanently sealed. The procedure uses silver nitrate to seal the blood vessels, and is usually combined with antiseptic cream application.
  
  

Prevention

• Once the nose bleed has stopped, avoid making it start again. Do not blow your nose for at least two hours after the nose bleed, because the artery that was bleeding needs a chance to heal. Do not put your fingers in your nose to remove dried blood or mucus, as this can cause the nose bleed to come back. The American Academy of Pediatricians tells parents of children with chronic nose bleeds to ask their doctors about using saline drops in the nose. This can help prevent future nose bleeds by keeping the blood vessels in the nose moist.