Nose Bleeds are fairly common and can often be managed at home.  Sometimes they can be dramatic and frightening because they occur out of the blue.  There are two types of Nose Bleeds: Anterior (coming from the front of the nose) and Posterior (coming from the back of the nose.  Anterior Nose Bleeds comprise about 90% of all Nose Bleeds and are usually from a blood vessel at the front of the nose.  Posterior Nose Bleeds pretty infrequent, usually occuring in elderly people, and come from an artery in the rear of the nose.  

Nose Bleeds are a common occurance during the winter months, or for people who live in dry weather.  Children between 2-10 years of age, or people between 50-80 years of age are the primary age groups that experience Nose Bleeds.  The most common symptom is blood that flows out of one nostril, but other symptoms include:

• Bleeding from One Nostril 
• Bleeding from Both Nostrils (if blood flow is extreme and backs up in the affected nostril before flowing out the other one too)
• Light-headedness
• Fainting
• Vomiting or Nausea (if blood goes back into the throat or stomach)

Nose Bleeds have many causes, but infrequent or sudden Nose Bleeds are rarely severe.  Dry air is usually the most common cause for Nose Bleeds.  If you live in a dry climate or use a central heating system, your nasal membranes, which are tissues inside your nose, dry out and can crust.  If something scratches the crusted membranes, they can bleed.  Taking antihistamines or medications for allergies can also dry out the nasal membranes and cause Nose Bleeds.  Other common causes are listed below. 

• Allergic Reaction
• Medications
• Dry Climate or Cold Weather
• Nose Injury
• Picking Your Nose
• Repeated Sneezing
• Upper Respiratory Infection
• Large Doses of Aspirin
• Foreign Object Stuck in the Nose

• The simplest way to stop Nose Bleeds is the pinch, press, and spray method.  To successfully do this, sit up straight and tilt your head a little forward to prevent blood from going down your throat.  Blow gently to expel clots, pinch the soft part of your nose with your thumb and index finger, and hold that position for about 10 minutes.  If blood proceeds to drip, place a wad of gauze or tissue between your gums and upper lip to put pressure on the blood vessels, which send blood to your nose.  Leave it there for 5-10 minutes. 
• It's important to stay hydrated because that helps to keep your mucus membranes moist.  It's a good idea to drink eight 8oz glasses of water throughout the day to stay properly hydrated.  A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water.  If you weight 150lbs then you should drink 75oz of water per day. 
• If you live in a dry environment, inhaling steam can help keep the nasal membranes moist, which can help stop Nose Bleeds.  To do this, boil half a pot of water and then place it on a sturdy surface.  Put your face above the bowl, drape a towel over your head and the pot to create a steam chamber, and breathe slowly.  You can do this once a day.  Additionally, you can obtain a humidifier and put essential oils in it to help create a more humid living space. 
• Apply ice to your bleeding nose can help stop the blood because the cold constricts the blood vessels.  Hold the ice on the bridge of your nose until the bleeding stops. 
• If you suffer from recurring nosebleeds, adding fruits and vegetables that contain vitamins C and K can help stop Nose Bleeds.  You can eat dark leafy greens such as kale or spinach to get your dose of vitamin, which helps proper blood clotting.  Oranges, grapefruit, kiwis, papayas, broccoli, and bell peppers are high in vitamin C, which helps form proper collagen, which creates a warm lining in the nose.  
• To help moisturize your nasal membranes, you can perform a saline nasal rinse, for example, a neti pot.  This can also rid the nasal passages of any dust, pollen, or allergens. 
• You can take a cotton ball or paper towel, dip it in vinegar, and insert it into the nostril that is bleeding.  The cotton or paper towel helps the blood from dripping out of your nostril, and the vinegar helps to seal the blood vessel wall to stop bleeding. 

• Dark Leafy Greens (spinach, kale, collards, & chard)
• Broccoli
• Bell Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Dark Berries (blackberries, blueberries, or raspberries)
• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• Snap Peas
• Green Beans
• Kiwis
• Papayas
• Cauliflower
• Onion
• Garlic
• Green Cabbage
• Watermelon