Nosebleeds and Headaches

Having nosebleeds and headaches together may sound scary. In most cases, only one of the nostrils bleed along with headache. However, in rare cases, both the nostrils can bleed. There are several reasons for both, nosebleeds and headache occurring together. However, before you opt for medication, it is a must to know about its cause, in order to ensure you take the right treatment. Nosebleeds should be treated as soon as possible as it results in the loss of blood, vital for the functioning of our body. It can make a person lose consciousness. While people suffering from both, nosebleeds and headaches, experience trouble in breathing, due to the blood pressure rising.

Causes of Nosebleeds and Headaches
There are various reasons that can lead to both nosebleeds and headaches occurring simultaneously. The following explains what causes nosebleeds.

• Nosebleeds and headaches, both in combination are signs of high blood pressure. Nosebleeds due to high blood pressure should be stubbed as soon as possible, in order to avoid further complications.
• This combined condition is also a sign of anemia. A complete check up should be done in order to know if a person is suffering from anemia or high blood pressure.
• If the blood pressure and other test results are normal, it indicates that the person is not suffering from severe nosebleed. Read more on nosebleeds and high blood pressure.
• A common cause of nosebleed is a blow to the head. A blow to the head can cause the large blood vessels present at the back of the nose to sustain damage. This is referred to as posterior nosebleed, which is common among the elderly people and those suffering from high blood pressure. In such cases, nosebleeds are accompanied with headaches.
• Many a time, dryness of the mucous membrane that lines the nose can also cause nosebleeds and headaches. The drying of the mucous membrane causes cracking and bleeding, which may also cause discomfort and nasal irritation.
• Though sinus infection does not cause nosebleeds, it is one of the common nosebleed causes due to the overuse of decongestants like nasal sprays.

How to Prevent Nosebleeds
Here are some ways that you may use to avert the possibilities of a nosebleed.

• Drying of mucous membrane can cause nosebleeds; hence, petroleum jelly should be applied to reduce the dryness. Applying petroleum jelly daily, twice a day, will keep you away from the problem of nosebleeds.
• Make sure that you drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated. Drinking water will keep your nasal membranes moist, thus preventing them from drying.
• Prevent the usage of medicines like decongestants and nasal sprays.
• Refrain from using strong perfumes which might cause irritation to the nose.
• Humidifiers keep the air in the room moist. Hence, usage of humidifiers is recommended.
• If you experience congestion in your nose, do not blow your nose forcefully. Instead, you can opt for warm water shower, which will help in loosening the congestion.

How to Stop Nosebleeds
In order to stop nosebleeds, sit down and pinch the end of the nose. The nose should be kept pinched for 5 minutes. If even after 5 to 7 minutes, the bleeding continues, then apply some pressure on the nose, and at the same time, make sure that the end of the nose is pinched. Ice bags may also help, to some extent, in curbing the nosebleeds as they help in constricting the blood vessels. Nevertheless, if blood loss continues with intensity for more than 10 minutes, or the individual endures shallow breathing, or has lost consciousness; they serve to be reasons enough to intimate your doctor, and subsequently seek medical aid.

Treatment for nosebleeds and headaches should be taken as soon as possible without any delay. To avert nosebleeds and headaches, it is advised that you consume enough water, and maintain a healthy diet.