Nosebleeds might seem scary, but they are normal and don’t hurt.
Understanding why they happen can help us feel less frightened and more prepared when they occur.
The Role of Blood Vessels
So, why do our noses bleed? The answer lies in the tiny blood vessels inside our noses. Our noses are filled with these vessels, like small tubes that carry blood from our hearts to all parts of our bodies and back again.
These blood vessels are everywhere in our bodies, but the ones in our nostrils, or the small holes in our noses, are close to the surface. This means that if there is a scratch or a crack in our nostrils, one of these blood vessels might open up, causing a nosebleed.
It might sound a bit scary, but it’s like getting a tiny cut inside your nose. Like any cut or scrape on your body, it bleeds.
Causes of Nosebleeds
What causes this scratch or crack inside our nostrils? Believe it or not, the most common cause is actually just air. Our nostrils need to stay a bit wet inside to be healthy. Most air has a little water, so as it goes in and out of our noses, it doesn’t usually dry out our nostrils.
However, when the air around us is dehydrated, it can dry out our noses as we breathe. This happens more when it’s freezing, windy, or dry outside. For some people, living in dry air for a while can dry out the inside of their nose and create a tiny crack in one of those blood vessels, leading to a nosebleed.
Other things can also cause a scratch inside someone’s nose. If something scratchy accidentally gets into your nostril, it can open up a blood vessel. Or it can happen if you pick your nose. That’s why ensuring nothing goes inside your nostrils is a good idea.
How to Stop a Nosebleed
Once a nosebleed starts, how do we stop it? Here’s what you can do:
- Stay calm. Remind yourself that nosebleeds are normal.
- Find a box of tissues and a quiet spot to sit.
- Lean forward so that the blood can run out of your nose.
- Pinch your nose really hard right under the bony part. This might look funny, but it helps the nosebleed stop quickly.
- Breathe through your mouth and relax while you wait for the blood vessels to cover themselves back up and the bleeding to stop.
- Hold some tissues under your nostrils to soak up any blood that comes out. But make sure not to blow your nose into the tissues. That could make the blood vessels start bleeding again.
- After about 10 minutes, the blood vessels should cover themselves back up, and the nosebleeds should stop.
- Lastly, throw away the tissues and wash your hands and face with soap and water.
Understanding nosebleeds helps make them less scary.
If you ever get a nosebleed, remember these tips and tell a grown-up so they can help.
Many people get nosebleeds, and now you know why and what to do!
SOURCES:
To access relevant information, check out the following blogs:
Kangaroo Math Blog for Mathematics
Kancil Science Blog for Science
Beaver Computational Thinking Blog for Computer Science
Kijang Economy Blog for Economics
