How to Stop a Headache and Nosebleed: Tips from a Doctor

Do you know how to stop a headache and nosebleed? If not, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Many people don’t know how to handle these common medical emergencies. This blog post will discuss the best ways to stop a headache and nosebleed. We’ll also provide tips from a doctor on preventing these issues from happening in the first place.

What causes headaches and nosebleeds?
Causes headaches and nosebleeds in adults?
Causes of headaches and nosebleeds during pregnancy
Causes of headaches and nosebleeds in children
When to get emergency medical care
How are headaches with nosebleeds diagnosed?
Treatments for headaches and nosebleeds
Treatment for headaches in children
Caring for headaches and nosebleeds at home
Preventing headaches and nosebleeds

What causes headaches and nosebleeds?

Headaches and cases of epistaxis, or nosebleeds, are common. Nosebleeds occur due to burst or broken blood vessels in the nose. Having a headache and a nosebleed can be a sign of a minor issue, such as hay fever, or something more severe, such as anemia, or a low red blood cell count.

Environmental and lifestyle factors can cause headaches and nosebleeds. It’s simple to burst your nose’s tiny blood veins, especially when it’s dry. Both symptoms can be caused by a deviated septum or a displaced wall in your nose. A deviated septum can obstruct one or both nostrils, face discomfort, and loud breathing when sleeping, in addition to headaches and nosebleeds.

The following are some more modest disorders that might produce headaches and nosebleeds:

Hay fever or allergic rhinitis
common cold
Infection of the sinuses
excessive usage of decongestants or nasal sprays
dry mucus in the nose

The following are some important but less common causes of headaches and nosebleeds:

congenital heart disease
leukemia
brain tumor
increased platelets in the blood, or essential thrombocythemia

See your doctor if your headaches and nosebleeds are accompanied by additional symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or dizziness.

Causes headaches and nosebleeds in adults

Adults with cluster headaches had considerably higher nosebleeds, according to one research. The findings also point to nosebleeds as a possible precursor to migraines, although more study is needed in this area. If you have frequent nosebleeds and an intense headache, your body may be sending you an early warning sign.

A headache with a nosebleed can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

overly dry environment
carbon monoxide poisoning
high blood pressure rupturing small blood vessels in the nose
anemia
nose infection or upper respiratory infection
sinus infections
overuse of cocaine
accidental inhalation of chemicals, such as ammonia
side effects of drugs, such as warfarin
head injury

Causes of headaches and nosebleeds during pregnancy

As you know, headaches and nosebleeds are frequent throughout pregnancy. You or someone you know may find it difficult to breathe during pregnancy. This is due to increased blood flow to your nose and nasal canal lining. Nosebleeds are caused by increased blood flow to the tiny arteries in your nose.

Hormonal changes are possible, especially in the first trimester. It’s also possible that this will give you a severe headache. If your headaches are severe and don’t go away, see a doctor. This might indicate preeclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure and organ damage.

Consult your doctor if your nosebleeds are severe and your headaches don’t go away after 20 minutes.

Causes of headaches and nosebleeds in children

Many youngsters suffer from nosebleeds as a result of:

picking the nose
have a bad posture
Skipping meals
poor sleep; not getting enough sleep

According to research, children experiencing headaches are also more prone to get nosebleeds. Excessive bleeding might induce headaches in certain people. When these symptoms occur frequently, and in quick succession, it might be a sign of a more serious ailment, such as high blood pressure, leukemia, or anemia.

If your kid exhibits any of the following symptoms, schedule an appointment with their doctor:

Tiredness
Weakness
Chills or a feeling of being cold
Dizziness or a lightheaded sensation
Easy bruising or bleeding

Your child’s blood pressure will be checked, and your doctor may order a complete blood count to discover the cause. If your kid doesn’t have a headache or has an abnormal neurological test, this study suggests having brain imaging.

When to get emergency medical care

Immediate medical attention is required if you have both a headache and nosebleed along with:

confusion
fainting
fever
paralysis on one side of your body
the trouble with movements, such as speaking or walking
nausea or vomiting that isn’t flu-related

Seek medical attention immediately if your nose is:

bleeding excessively
bleeding for more than 20 minutes
bleeding that’s interfering with your breathing
broken

If your child has a nosebleed and is younger than two years old, you should take them to the ER.

Schedule a visit with your doctor if your nosebleed and headaches are:

ongoing or recurring
keeping you from participating in everyday activities
getting worse
not improving with the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medicine

Most nosebleeds and headaches will go away on their own or with self-care.

This information is a summary of emergency situations. Contact your doctor if you think you’re experiencing a medical emergency.

How are headaches with nosebleeds diagnosed?

Keeping track of your symptoms before your doctor’s appointment may be beneficial. These are some of the questions your doctor could ask you:

Do you have any newly prescribed medications?
Do you use any nasal decongestants?
How long have these headaches and nosebleeds been bothering you?
What additional symptoms, aches, and pains do you have?

They may also inquire about your family history to determine whether you have any genetic risk factors for particular diseases.

Answering these questions will also help your doctor decide which tests you need. Some tests your doctor may order are:

blood tests to check for blood cell count or other blood diseases
head or chest X-rays
ultrasound of your kidney to check for signs of chronic kidney disease
blood pressure test
for worse cases, scans for brain or spinal cord issues

Treatments for headaches and nosebleeds

If the nosebleed doesn’t stop, your doctor will use a cauterizing or heating tool to seal off a blood vessel. This will prevent your nose from bleeding and help reduce the risk of future bleeding. Other treatments for nosebleeds may include surgery to remove a foreign object or correct a deviated septum or fracture.

While OTC pain medication can reduce severe headaches, aspirin may contribute to further nose bleeding. Aspirin is a blood thinner. Your doctor will prescribe special medication if you experience frequent migraines.

Your doctor will also focus on treating the underlying condition first if it’s the cause of your headaches.

Treatment for headaches in children

Treating headaches and nosebleeds in children does not necessarily require pharmacological interventions. Most parents are instructed to do one of the following first before trying other approaches.

Monitoring. Keeping a headache diary to identify patterns and triggers
Diet modification. Make sure your child eats all of their meals
Lifestyle changes. Changing environmental factors, such as bright lights
Body conditioning. Adopting healthy lifestyle factors, such as exercise and good sleeping habits
Keeping calm. Practicing relaxation techniques

Caring for headaches and nosebleeds at home

A cool room temperature can help reduce the likelihood of nosebleeds.

You may cure a nosebleed right away by doing the following:

Sit up to lower the blood pressure in your nose and prevent bleeding.
To prevent blood from entering your mouth, lean forward.
As you apply pressure to your nose, pinch both nostrils tightly.
Place cotton pads in your nose while holding it to prevent blood from escaping.

Keep your nostrils closed for 10 to 15 minutes when applying pressure to your nose. Once the bleeding has stopped, use a warm or cool compress to your head or neck to relieve the pain. Pain can also be relieved by resting in a calm, cold, and dark environment.

Preventing headaches and nosebleeds

You may use vaporizers in your house to keep the air moist during dry seasons. This will prevent the inside of your nose from drying out and causing nosebleeds. If you have seasonal allergies, you may also want to take over-the-counter allergy medication to avoid headaches and nasal problems.

You may need to teach your child not to pick their nose, depending on the cause. Providing a safe environment for toys and play can assist in lessening the danger of foreign things being stuck in their nose.

You may be able to prevent or lessen migraine and tension headaches by taking steps to reduce stress in your life. This could mean changing your sitting posture, making time for relaxation, and identifying triggers so you can avoid them.