Nosebleeds, also known as epistaxis, are usually more annoying than they are painful. Still, you want to stop them as soon as possible so you don’t, you know, bleed all over the place. Here’s what a doctor from Harvard Medical School suggests.
You’ve probably heard all sorts of home remedies for nosebleeds in the past, but most of them are hogwash. Placing an ice pack on your neck, for example, hasn’t shown much promise in studies. Same with placing an ice pack on your forehead. Fortunately, there is a trick that works if you have a little patience. In a video at Harvard Med School’s blog, Dr Howard LeWine demonstrates the process in a few steps.
- Start by tilting your head forward so you stop blood from, ahem, flowing down your throat.
- Place your thumb and index finger on either side of the bridge of your nose.
- Slide them down to the “drop off” where the bone gives way to cartilage, and pinch.
- Hold with a little pressure until the bleeding stops. You may have to adjust where your fingers are until you find it.
That should do it. If not, you may have to go with a backup plan that usually works: Stuffing your nose with gauze or tissue. You’ll look a bit silly, but it will shut off the blood faucet if the pinch trick doesn’t work.
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