Nosebleeds  //

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Nosebleeds are very common and normally mild and settle easily. They are more common in people with high blood pressure, if you take any blood thinning medication or have an underlying clotting disorder. 

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To treat an acute nosebleed, you should firmly pinch the soft fleshy part of the nose, lean forward and keep applying pressure. You can also apply a cold pack to the forehead and suck on an ice cube to help close off the blood vessels in the nose quicker. If the bleeding does not settle or is particularly heavy you should go to your nearest Emergency Department as the nose may need 'packing' in order to settle the bleeding. 

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For recurrent nosebleeds, the best treatment is nasal cautery. This is where we can identify a broken vessel inside the nose and apply a chemical to the vessel to burn it away. It is performed under local anaesthetic and is suitable for adolescents and adults. Sometimes smaller children also tolerate the procedure, but they will need to sit still for a few minutes. If the bleeds are not arising from the front of the nose, we can arrange for a referral to an ENT surgeon to take a look into the back of the nose with a fiberoptic camera. 

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With extensive ENT training, Dr Green is experienced in nasal cautery and although it is not an 'ear' problem, he is happy to treat recurrent nosebleeds at Primary Care Ear Clinic.