Plagued by Winter Nosebleeds? Here’s What to Do

About 60% of the population will experience a nosebleed in their lifetime and chances are it will occur in the winter months. It’s a matter of anatomy and low humidity. 

While inconvenient, most nosebleeds are nothing to worry about and you can deal with most at home. In the case of heavy or recurring nosebleeds, visit our team at Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates in Lawrence and Ottawa. To help you survive the winter, we’ve prepared this guide on how to deal with nosebleeds at home.

Causes of winter nosebleeds

One of the major functions of the nose is the warming of air that you breathe. This is accomplished by the lining of the nose, which features many tiny blood vessels that are close to the surface of the lining to create a warm environment for the passage of air. 

Cooler air in the winter months carries less water vapor, particularly when cold outside air is warmed up for living spaces. Even when you’re outside, the humidity of air drops as its temperature climbs inside your body. 

This dries out the lining of the nose, making it more susceptible to damage and irritation. When the lining  dries and damage occurs, nosebleeds begin. 

Respiratory infections are more common in the winter, the dreaded cold and flu season, and these can also cause irritation of the nasal lining as well as increased blowing and wiping, and potential blood vessel damage. 

What to do about winter nosebleeds

Managing winter nosebleeds is typically a two-stage process: prevention and immediate need. If you or someone in your household is prone to nosebleeds, be familiar with each aspect. 

Preventing winter nosebleeds

Nosebleed prevention centers around keeping your noise hydrated and humid. Consider these strategies: 

• Keep your fluid intake high: drink plenty of water and other liquids to moisturize from the inside
• Humidify your home: if you don’t add a humidifier to a forced air furnace, try a single-room unit for the bedroom
• Apply petroleum jelly: a thin coating inside the nostrils protects the lining and prevents moisture loss.  Please note: This is a short-term strategy that should not be done longer than 2-3 weeks.
• Use saline nose sprays: two or three applications a day helps keep the nasal lining moist
• Discourage nose picking: keep children’s nails trimmed closely to avoid scratching
• Blow your nose gently: particularly important when you’re congested
• Quit smoking: apart from seasonal concerns, cigarette smoke irritates the nose lining

Medications that increase your risk of bleeding, like aspirin, ibuprofen, or some prescription drugs, can raise your risk of bleeding. 

Treating a bleeding nose

Follow these steps to bring a nosebleed under control:

• Breathe through your mouth
• Sit straight with your head forward to promote nose drainage rather than throat drainage
• Pinch your nose below the bridge to close both nostrils
• Apply pressure for a minimum of 10 minutes before checking for continued bleeding
• Avoid activities that may disrupt the blood clot for the next few hours, such as blowing your nose, bending over, or performing strenuous tasks

You can also apply a cold compress to your nose to constrict blood vessels. 

Heavy nosebleeds that resist efforts to control or that are accompanied by other conditions or symptoms may require urgent care. These types of bleeds are typically easy to distinguish from common nosebleeds.

Contact Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates if your nosebleeds are frequent, you’ve recently started a new medication, or you have symptoms of anemia. Call or click to book an appointment as soon as possible after an unusual nosebleed occurrence.