Nosebleed

Nosebleeds are not usually a sign of anything serious. They're common, particularly in children, and most can be easily treated at home.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

  • a child under 2 years old has a nosebleed
  • you have regular nosebleeds
  • you have symptoms of anaemia – such as a faster heartbeat (palpitations), shortness of breath and pale skin
  • you're taking a blood-thinning medicine, such as warfarin
  • you have a condition that means your blood cannot clot properly, such as haemophilia

The GP might want to test you for haemophilia or for other conditions like anaemia.

Immediate action required: Go to A&E if:

  • your nosebleed lasts longer than 10 to 15 minutes
  • the bleeding seems excessive
  • you're swallowing a large amount of blood that makes you vomit
  • the bleeding started after a blow to your head
  • you're feeling weak or dizzy
  • you're having difficulty breathing

Causes of a nosebleed

The inside of the nose is delicate and nosebleeds happen when it's damaged. This can be caused by:

Nosebleeds that need medical attention can come from deeper inside the nose and usually affect adults. They can be caused by:

Sometimes the cause of a nosebleed is unknown.

Certain people are more prone to getting nosebleeds, including:

How to stop a nosebleed yourself

If you have a nosebleed, you should:

Holding an icepack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) on the top of the nose may help reduce the blood flow. But the evidence to show it works is not very strong.

Hospital treatment for nosebleeds

If doctors can see where the blood is coming from, they may seal it by pressing a stick with a chemical on it to stop the bleeding.

If this is not possible, doctors might pack your nose with sponges to stop the bleeding. You may need to stay in hospital for a day or two.

When a nosebleed stops

After a nosebleed, for 24 hours try not to:

Page last reviewed: 22 January 2021
Next review due: 22 January 2024