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Epistaxis - Management
What self-care advice should I provide after an episode of epistaxis?
- For 24 hours after bleeding, where practical, advise the person to avoid activities which may increase the risk of rebleeding. These include:
- Blowing or picking the nose.
- Heavy lifting.
- Strenuous exercise.
- Lying flat.
- Drinking alcohol or hot drinks — as these can cause the nasal blood vessels to dilate and increase the risk of bleeding.
- If the nose has been cauterized, the person should avoid blowing their nose for a few hours to prevent staining of the nostril.
- If bleeding restarts and does not respond to first aid measures, the person should seek medical advice.
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