Among the elderly people, nosebleeding is often an indication of high blood pressure. An injury to the nose or skull may also cause nosebleeding. If a mixture of blood and watery fluid is present, this strongly indicates a fracture of the base of the skull which may have followed a severe blow on the head. It is advisable to have an x-ray of the skull if this is the case.
Another cause of nasal hemorrhage may be an inflammation or irritation inside the nose. Other causes of nosebleed include tuberculosis, vitamin K deficiency, allergies, polyp, nasal infection, nasal tumors, common cold, heavy blowing of the nose, and nose picking among many others.
First aid treatment
Keep the patient in a comfortable upright sitting position with his head slightly tilted back. Apply steady pressure to the side of the bleeding nose. Firmly press on the nostril and hold it for 10-12 minutes; the patient will only breath through the mouth. Never allow the patient to blow his nose. Applying cold compress or cold cloths to the back of the neck or to the face may also help control the nosebleed. If the bleeding continues even with after these first aid procedures, call a doctor immediately. The patient may need to be treated in a hospital or the nearest medical clinic.
While waiting for the doctor to arrive, the patient should avoid coughing if possible because this will only cause more bleeding. Keep a steady pressure on the bleeding nostril. This may be quite painful for the patient, but it will usually keep the bleeding under control.
© 2/16/2011 by Athena Goodlight on Healthmad