Q&A: Dealing With Recurring Nosebleeds

Anything I can do about recurring nosebleeds?

Although nosebleeds can be alarming, they usually aren’t serious. In more than 90 percent of nosebleeds, the bleeding comes from blood vessels in the front of the nose, and they are generally easy to control.

(Rare, prolonged posterior nosebleeds come from arteries in the back of the nose and require medical intervention.)

You probably already know how to stop a nosebleed: hold your head back and pinch your nostrils together for 10 minutes. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, spray a decongestant into the nostril and hold your nose for another 10 minutes.

Once it stops, don’t blow your nose, bend over, or lift anything heavy for half an hour or so. If it hasn’t stopped after 20 minutes, see a doctor.

Now, to prevent recurring nosebleeds: Since nosebleeds are more common in dry, cold weather, “humidify” your nose with saline spray (salt water), available at your local drugstore. Spray into each nostril three times a day and before bedtime.

I also recommend nutritional supplements that strengthen the capillaries and blood vessels in your nasal passages, which are fragile and prone to rupture.

Nutrients that address capillary fragility include vitamin C (1,000+ mg) and bioflavonoids such as rutin and hesperidin (1,000 mg of mixed flavonoids). I’ve also heard reports about cayenne pepper helping to prevent nosebleeds. The suggested dose is 600 mg a day. These vitamins and supplements should be available in most health food stores.

Finally, make sure you’re eating enough broccoli and leafy greens, which contain vitamin K, the clotting vitamin. If you continue to have nosebleeds on this regimen, consider adding a vitamin K supplement, 100 mcg per day. (If you are taking Coumadin or another blood thinner, do not take vitamin K.)

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