Preventing Nosebleed Induced Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea

When faced with a nosebleed, your first, natural reaction may end up making you sick or have you running for the bathroom later. How you can prevent nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea from making an appearance during or after you have a nosebleed.

When your nose begins to bleed, quickly grab something to catch the blood (towel, tissue, paper towels or cloth) and get over a sink (or somewhere that won't be stained or permanently affected by bloodstains)

Do not look up! Many people immediately look to the ceiling when their nose starts to bleed as a reflex, to keep the blood from flowing out.  Looking up allows the blood in your nose to begin trickling down your throat and into your stomach. Not only can the blood in your throat cause coughing (further exacerbating the nosebleed), but once in your stomach, the blood can quickly lead to nausea, vomiting, and, eventually even diarrhea. Similarly, do not swallow any of the blood that may enter your mouth through the throat for the same reasons.  Spit it out, if possible to expel as much blood as possible before it lands in the stomach.

After spitting out any blood that has accumulated in the mouth, pinch your nose just below the bridge and lean forward over a sink so the excess blood can drip out.  Using a cold compress (even just a cold cloth) or an ice pack can help curtail and stop the bleeding.  A small frozen bag of vegetables make an excellent compress (peas are a popular choice as their size will allow the bag to mold to the shape of the face well).

Avoiding the ingestion of blood is the only sure fire way to prevent the nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that often occur during or after a nosebleed.  By keeping a level head and taking these simple measures, a nosebleed can be reduced to a minor inconvenience without any lingering annoyances.

Note: If you feel faint, dizzy, had recent trauma to the head or if the nosebleed lasts, consistently for 10 minutes of longer, seek medical attention.