The winter nosebleed conundrum

January 28, 2022, 06:17 AM

mark123

I’m prone to nosebleeds in the winter. We run a humidifier in the bedroom and it helps. The problem is when I get one it starts a viscous cycle of

nosebleed
clot forms in nose
clot is irritating
I blow my nose
which immediately goes back to 1

I can’t seem to get myself to not do something about the irritation.

I’ve tried petroleum jelly to keep it moist but that’s just feels like a stuffed nose and is worse than a nosebleed. Even tiny amounts block my nasal passages.

What has worked for your nosebleeds beyond jamming a tissue up there until it clots?

January 28, 2022, 06:20 AM

alreadydead

Make sure your blood pressure is under good control.
Humidity is a big problem as well as not messing with it.
If you have a persistent problem a silver nitrate stick at your medical provider may help.

January 28, 2022, 06:22 AM

mark123

Blood pressure is near perfect.

January 28, 2022, 06:29 AM

valkyrie1

Have the same issue, just need not to blow as hard. Had it in Colorado alot and occasionally when the temps drop in Florida. BP normal

January 28, 2022, 06:48 AM

mark123

quote:
Originally posted by valkyrie1:
Have the same issue, just need not to blow as hard. …

It doesn’t even take a hard blow to start the flow. I’ve really got to see the Doctor about this.

January 28, 2022, 06:49 AM

PASig

Having a humidifier just in one room is not enough. You need to get a whole-house humidifier on your furnace if it’s a forced air type or get enough around the house to keep the entire house at a decent humidity level which should be 40-50% in the winter. The air here in PA gets so incredibly dry in the winter, I recall seeing the humidity gauge at my old house that didn’t have the whole-house humidifier in the single digits when getting up in the morning.

January 28, 2022, 06:59 AM

lastmanstanding

I had the nose bleed and terrible itchy skin every winter when things get cold and dry. Solved the nose bleeds with a bedroom humidifier. Itchy skin solved by reducing temp of showers. Using unscented body wash and healthy amounts of Cera Ve skin lotion just a few minutes after taking a shower.

January 28, 2022, 07:18 AM

kyoung

I used to get a lot of nosebleeds when I was working, not a one since I retired 2 yrs ago. I contribute that to a combination of stress and working in a half mile long building for 35 years with who knows what blowing around in it. I heat with wood and I keep a kettle of water on all the time and a big humidifier going all the time right now because its really dry here now.

January 28, 2022, 07:28 AM

Powers77

I find the Neilmed type rinsing to be very helpful for both allergies and overall sinus functionality.

January 28, 2022, 07:32 AM

lurker

I have the same problem and I found that wearing some kind of face covering outside in the winter helps too. It helps keep the air going in my nose warm and moist.

I had an ENT doctor tell me one time to use a spray nasal decongestant when it bleeds because they constrict the blood vessels in the nose and that helps stop the bleeding quickly. I don't remember if it was a certain kind of spray or if they all work the same though.

January 28, 2022, 07:33 AM

Sunset_Va

I've had severe nosebleeds, but no set season. Some really severe ones too. I've been in the grocery store when it started, and just left the store , not wanting to get blood everywhere.

Doctor's can't find the cause, it's always on the left side. My blood pressure is okay, although I'm on blood pressure medication.

I attribute it to the blood thinner I take.
I run a humidifier in the bedroom during the winter.

January 28, 2022, 07:34 AM

Aglifter

+1 for Nelimed

January 28, 2022, 07:52 AM

sigmonkey

My oldest daughter had chronic nosebleeds.

Took her to the ENT, and he put a 20,000 watt Klieg light up there and a junior Hubbell 'scope and saw a blood vessel that needed a jolt from the DeathStar.

Has not had a nose bleed since, even when one of the toddling grandmonkeys did the ol' "back-of-the-head-snap-into-the-nose™" and gave her racoon eyes while sitting on her lap.

Hope yours is a simple fix.

January 28, 2022, 08:05 AM

Ironbutt

If dry heat/dry nasal passages are the cause of your nosebleeds, try saline nasal mist. (It's inexpensive, contains no drugs, and is available in most grocery store pharmacy sections.) We heat with wood & the occasional nosebleed after blowing my nose used to be a problem. Humidifiers will help too.

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January 28, 2022, 08:33 AM

Bluecobra

Yeah the nasal mists are good. My dad had such a problem once that he opted to have it cauterized. The deadening shot was the worst part he said.

January 28, 2022, 09:03 AM

Anush

Have you been to a specialist? I had the same problem which was fixed by cauterizing blood vessels that according to the Dr. looked like volcanos.

January 28, 2022, 09:14 AM

gearhounds

I used get winter nose bleeds until I got this idea several years ago. I rub a tiny bit of chap stick inside each nostril every day or so during the winter. Just a very thin film. It moisturizes and gets absorbed into the membrane unlike petroleum jelly which sits there like a paste. It makes a huge difference.

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January 28, 2022, 09:24 AM

mark123

quote:
Originally posted by gearhounds:

I used get winter nose bleeds until I got this idea several years ago. I rub a tiny bit of chap stick inside each nostril every day or so during the winter. Just a very thin film. It moisturizes and gets absorbed into the membrane unlike petroleum jelly which sits there like a paste. It makes a huge difference.

I’ll give that a shot. Thanks.

January 28, 2022, 09:52 AM

rat2306

I get them also, but the past two years it's been less often. One item that helps; I try to avoid aspirin, Advil, etc. A nasal saline rinse, or spray helps, and they make saline gels (Rhinase is one, Ayr gel is another that I know of). For really tough winters I have one of those PurMist inhalers.

January 28, 2022, 10:05 AM

6guns

quote:
Originally posted by PASig:
Having a humidifier just in one room is not enough. You need to get a whole-house humidifier on your furnace if it’s a forced air type or get enough around the house to keep the entire house at a decent humidity level which should be 40-50% in the winter. The air here in PA gets so incredibly dry in the winter, I recall seeing the humidity gauge at my old house that didn’t have the whole-house humidifier in the single digits when getting up in the morning.

I agree with this. Get a humidity gauge and see what your house relative humidity is. I try to keep mine at 50%, but in these especially cold outside temps, it's hard to do. I run a whole house humidifier and a mister in the bedroom.