The Easiest Way to Stop Nosebleeds, According to a Harvard Doctor
Nasal bleeding , also known as epistaxis , generally more annoying than painful. However, 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 at Harvard Medical School suggests.
You’ve probably heard all sorts of home remedies for nosebleeds in the past, but most of them are bullshit . For example, placing an ice pack around the neck did not show much promise in research . Ditto if youput anicepack on your forehead . Fortunately, there is a trick that works with a little patience. In a video on the Harvard School of Medicine blog, Dr. Howard Levine demonstrates this process in several steps.
- Start by tilting your head forward to keep the blood from flowing down your throat.
- Place your thumb and forefinger on either side of the bridge of your nose.
- Slide them down to the “cliff”, where the bone gives way to cartilage, and pinch.
- Hold with light pressure until the bleeding stops. You may need to adjust the position of your fingers until you find it.
This should do the trick. Otherwise, you may have to use a contingency plan that usually works: stuff your nose with gauze or tissue. You might look a little silly, but he’ll turn off the blood tap if the clamp trick doesn’t work.