*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Nosebleed

Nosebleeds are not usually a sign of anything serious. They're common, particularly in children, and most can be easily treated at home.

See a GP if:

a child under 2 years old has had a nosebleed
you have regular nosebleeds
you have symptoms of anaemia - such as a faster heartbeat (palpitations), shortness of breath and skin that is paler than normal for you
you have a nosebleed and you're taking a medicine that helps prevent blood clots, such as warfarin
you have a nosebleed and you have a condition that means your blood cannot clot properly, such as haemophilia

The GP might want to test you for haemophilia or for other conditions like anaemia.

Go to A&E if:

You have a nosebleed and:

your nosebleed lasts longer than 10 to 15 minutes
the bleeding seems excessive
you're swallowing a large amount of blood that makes you vomit
the bleeding started after a blow to your head
you're feeling weak or dizzy
you're having difficulty breathing

Causes of a nosebleed

The inside of the nose is easy to damage and that's when nosebleeds happen. This can be caused by:

picking your nose
blowing your nose too hard
the inside of your nose being too dry (maybe because of a change in air temperature)

Nosebleeds that need medical attention can come from deeper inside the nose and usually affect adults. They can be caused by:

an injury or broken nose
conditions that affect the blood vessels or how the blood clots
certain medicines, like warfarin

Sometimes the cause of a nosebleed is unknown.

Certain people are more likely to getting nosebleeds, including:

children
adults over 45 years old
pregnant women
people with high blood pressure

How to stop a nosebleed yourself

If you have a nosebleed, you should:

sit down and lean forward, with your head tilted forward and your mouth open
pinch your nose just above your nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes
breathe through your mouth

Holding an icepack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) on the top of the nose may help reduce the blood flow. But the evidence to show it works is not very strong.

Treatment for nosebleeds

If you have a nosebleed and a doctor can see where the blood is coming from, they may use a stick with a chemical on it to stop the bleeding. This is pushed into the nostril to seal the area.

If this is not possible, they might pack your nose with ribbon gauze or sponge, to stop the bleeding. You may need to stay in hospital for a day or two.

When your nosebleed stops, a doctor may prescribe an antiseptic cream to use inside your nose. This stops crusting, or scabs forming. Check the cream's ingredients first, as it may not be suitable if you have a peanut or soya allergy.

When a nosebleed stops

After a nosebleed, to reduce the chance of another nosebleed, try not to do the following for 24 hours:

blow your nose
pick your nose
drink hot drinks or alcohol
do any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise
pick any scabs
lie down flat

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.