Nosebleed

Nose bleeding during Pregnancy- Causes, Treatment and Prevention

Many women develop nosebleeds during pregnancy. For many, nosebleeds are fairly common and simple. If nothing more, women find it uncomfortable and shocking. The body goes through many changes during pregnancy. You may find your self blessed with all sorts of discomforts and new grievances. Bleeding from the nose may be one of them. Nosebleeds and nasal congestion are common symptoms during pregnancy. As the pregnancy develops the volume of blood increases. The combination of hormonal changes and increased blood flow contributes to some of the nasal problems during pregnancy. Many women complain that they feel more congested, have more sinus headaches, or have frequent nosebleeds when they are pregnant.

Causes:
Nosebleeds during pregnancy are more common as the blood vessels in the body expand because the volume of pumping blood increases during pregnancy. Pregnancy can increase the pressure in the blood vessels in the nose, which contributes to the nosebleed. Nosebleeds are also common when a woman has a cold or when it is particularly dry, as these conditions may contribute to irritation of the membrane.

Causes of nosebleeds usually depend on the person, but pregnant women seem to have more than its fair share of nosebleeds. Pregnant women usually have 30% to 50% more blood movement in their bodies than they would normally have. This blood is needed to maintain a healthy placenta and baby.

As hormones such as estrogen and progesterone increase during pregnancy, the blood flow in women also increases. This increased blood flow is also one of the main reasons for nose bleeding because it exerts a pressure on the mucous membrane of the nose. Sometimes these vessels are not able to withstand the pressure and as a result, break.

Rough wind or the aggressive nose blowing can also contribute to irritation and can cause frequent nosebleeds. Pregnant women experience nasal congestion more frequently than non-pregnant women.

Treatment:
There are some simple steps that you can take to prevent or minimize the number of nosebleeds experienced during pregnancy.
- Try using a humidifier in the bedroom at night to keep the humidity in the room. Dry air can dry the mucous membranes which contribute to nosebleeds.
- Avoid blowing too hard especially when you have a cold. Use soft tissue products such as those with aloe to help ease the nose.
- Be sure to drink plenty of fluids during the day to keep mucous membranes working properly. Dry mucous membranes are more likely to bleed as compared to well-hydrated membranes.
- Try a nasal spray more lubricant if you have frequent nosebleeds. Alternatively, you can try a small dab of Vaseline inside the nose to prevent the membranes from drying out.
If the symptoms continue to persist then you can immediately concern the doctor for proper check up.

Prevention:
If you find that nosebleeds are particularly troublesome, try some of these quick fixes to prevent it in the future:
- Do not pick your nose!
- Blow your nose gently.
- When you sneeze, keep your mouth open to relieve pressure on the nose.
- Buy a humidifier at your home or office to keep the air nice and moist.
- Put petroleum jelly or saline drops in the nose to keep hydrated mucous.
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
- Increase the intake of vitamin C as it promotes tissue healing.

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How to stop a nose bleed?

A nasty drip that is the most common kind of nose bleed involves bleeding from the front of the nose only. These are called anterior nosebleeds. They originate from one of the tiny vessels that run through the front of the nose. Blood thinning medications can make you more susceptible to them. Some ways to stop them are:
- Stand or sit upright, lean forward, and pinch the front, soft part of your nose between your thumb and forefinger. After about 5 to 15 minutes, the bleeding should stop. If it does not stop after 20 to 30 minutes with continued pressure, emergency evaluation is usually necessary.
- Lubricate your nose: If you have recurrent anterior nosebleeds, try lubing your nose with a thin film of petroleum jelly.
- The blood vessel causing the nosebleed may need to be cauterized. This procedure creates a seal on the vessel by burning it with silver nitrate, electric current or a laser beam.

A less common type of nosebleed involves heavy bleeding that flows down the back of the throat and sometimes out of a nostril. These posterior nosebleeds are more likely to occur in older adults with conditions such as high blood pressure, which can damage blood vessels.
A posterior nosebleed requires a trip to the emergency department. Doctors may try to stop the bleeding by inserting packing material deep into the nostrils. If it does not work, surgery may be needed to tie off the bleeding vessel. Posterior and recurring anterior nosebleeds may require a follow-up exam to look for underlying problems such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, a bleeding disorder or a tumor.