Nose Bleed - Treatment

The claim: Tilt your head back to treat a nosebleed. The facts: Most people stop a nosebleed by leaning the head back and apply pressure to the nose. But medical experts say that what most people did to stop nosebleeds is wrong. Tilting the head back can create complications by allowing blood into the oesophagus. It risks choking and it can cause blood to travel to the stomach, possibly leading to irritation and vomiting. The American Academy of Family Physicians says the best treatment is to sit down, lean forward and keep your head above your heat, which lessens bleeding. Leaning forward also helps drain the blood from the nose and keeps it from the oesophagus. A report in the British Journal BMJ says you can stop the bleeding by using your thumb and index finger to squeeze the soft tissue just below the bridge of your nose for five to ten minutes. A cold compress or ice pack placed across the bridge of the nose can also help.

If all of this fails and the bleeding lasts for more than twenty minutes, or the nosebleed was caused by a blow to the head, seek medical attention. The outcome: Never treat a nosebleed by tilting your head back.