Nosebleeds typically occur more frequently in cold, dry climates or during the winter, for unknown reason, it is more common to get a bloody nose in the morning than any other time of day. Although they can affect any age, they are more common in children between 2 and 10 and adults between 50 and 80. Known as epistaxis, nosebleeds can be frightening and dramatic. Luckily, most of the time, they will not be serious and can be taken care of at home. In some cases, medical intervention is necessary.
What Causes Bloody Nose in the Morning?
1. Dry Air
Dry air, either from outside or indoor heating, may dry out the lining of your nose, leading to bleeding and cracks, and causing a nosebleed. You can reduce the dryness of the external environment by investing a humidifier or using a nasal spray to help humidify the interior of your nose.
2. Habits and Decongestant Overuse
Excessively blowing your nose can make the thin tissue tear and cause a nose bleed. The usage of decongestant when you get cold can be another culprit. These decongestants can dry and irritate your nasal passages, leading to bleeding, particularly if overused.
3. Existing Health Conditions
Allergies, colds and infections can be common conditions that can cause bloody nose in the morning. Infections or allergies may also lead to itching which causes picking. Typically,upper respiratory infections or allergies can lead to nose bleed in the morning due to inflammation of the mucous membranes.
Other health conditions like kidney or liver disease, chronic alcohol consumption can reduce your blood's clotting ability, leading to nose bleeds. Heart condition such as high blood pressure or congestive heart failure can induce nose bleeds.
Hypertensive crisis refers to a rapid, sudden increase in your blood pressure that may include nosebleeds as well as shortness of breath, anxiety, and severe headaches.
4. Medications
Certain medications can affect your blood's clotting ability and lead to a nose bleed, such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), aspirin, or anticoagulants (blood-thinning medicines). You may take some of these medications to prevent blood clots, stroke, or heart attacks. If you are prone to nose bleeds, however, your doctor can work with you to find an alternative medication.
5. Foreign Substances Inside
Foreign substance inside the nose can lead to a bloody nose in the morning. Such terms can include cheerios, peas, or cocaine as well as mediations like steroid nasal sprays.
6. Trauma on Nasal Area
It should not come as a surprise that if your nose is hit with a great deal of force, it will start bleeding. You will have to decide whether it is severe enough to visit a doctor.
7. Deviated Septum
If the partition separating the two nasal chambers is crooked, this is known as a deviated septum. This condition can increase the risk of nosebleeds. It is also possible to get a bleeding nose in the morning if your nasal septum's surface is dry. Deviated septum also gives foreign objects access to nasal canals that can lead to damage or obstructions, which in turn causes injuries and infections to the nasal canal and nose bleeds.
When to Seek Medical Help
You typically do not need to contact your doctor for the occasional bloody nose in the morning. If, however, you are on an anticoagulant (blood thinner like warfarin) or suffer from a clotting disorder like hemophilia and your bleeding doesn't stop, you should contact your health care professional. Also, do so if you have nosebleeds that regularly come and go, the nosebleed occurs in a child under two years old, or you experience anemic symptoms, including a pale complexion, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath.
You should seek emergency medical assistance if:
- The nosebleed follows a car crash or other serious injury
- You vomit following accidentally swallowing a large quantity of blood
- You experience trouble breathing
- The bleed lasts over 20 minutes
- You experience heavy bleeding and lose a great deal of blood
How to Deal With Bloody Nose in the Morning
Stopping nosebleed in the morning is fairly easy to do with straightforward instructions and some simple home remedies.
1. General Instructions
Apply direct pressure to the area for 10 minutes can be a way to stop the bleeding. Do this by pinching your nose as you sit forward. After the bleeding stops, apply a topical and/or saline ointment to moisturize your nose.
Do not bend over when you have a nosebleed. Keep your head in an elevated position until your bleeding stops. Sit down in a chair that reclines keeping your head up or lie down and prop it up with pillows.
If the bleeding begins again, you can constrict your nasal blood vessels with a nasal decongestant spray like Vicks, Dristan, or Sinex. Then, use the direct pressure method mentioned above.
2. Home Remedies to Try
You can also rely on other simple home remedies to manage bloody nose in the morning.
Cold compress: Applying ice, for example, will reduce bleeding issues and swelling. It slows down blood flow, encouraging clotting so bleeding stops within several minutes. Apply the icepack on your nose directly for about five minutes.
Baking soda solution: Or you can create a solution of baking soda and water and then spray two or three puffs on your nose as nasal irrigation to stem the blood flow.
White vinegar: You can try plugging your nose with cotton dipped in white vinegar. This seals up the blood vessel walls. If you are at risk of nosebleeds, try to inhale steam regularly.
Make some diet changes when necessary. If you experience regular nosebleeds, try making the following diet modifications:
- Eat more iron since the hemoglobin in it is part of red blood cells.
- Eat foods rich in vitamin C since it creates collagen, part of body tissues.
- Consume more vitamin K to help with blood clotting.
- Eat zinc to help with blood vessel maintenance.
Preventive Tips to Take
Try to avoid picking your nose and engaging in forceful nose-blowing. Limit your use of NSAIDs and other anticoagulants, control your blood pressure, and quit smoking. You can also add a humidifier to your home and maintain a low heat (between 60-64° Fahrenheit) in sleeping areas. For you children, just encourage children not to pick their noses.
This video can help you provide first aid to someone with a bloody nose: