ASK THE DOC Should I be concerned about my nose bleeds?
Recently, I’ve been having a lot of nosebleeds. Should I be concerned?
Nosebleeds can be frightening, but they aren’t usually a sign of anything serious and can often be treated at home. During a nosebleed, blood flows from one or both nostrils. It can be heavy or light and last from a few seconds to 10 minutes or more. To stop a nosebleed, sit down and firmly pinch the soft part of your nose, just under the bony part of your nose, for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Lean forward while doing this and breathe through your mouth while doing this– this will drain blood down your nose instead of down the back of your throat. Don’t pick or blow your nose after the bleed. If the bleeding eventually stops, you won’t usually need to seek medical advice. However, if the bleeding is very heavy and lasting longer than 20 minutes, seek urgent medical attention. If you have been told that you are at risk of bleeding for longer, for example, if you’re on blood thinning medications or have a blood condition, then it is important you can. If your dentist is closed call 111 for advice.
I’m going through the menopause and my period returned briefly. Is this normal?
The menopause is when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. Periods usually start to become less frequent over a few months or years before they stop altogether. Sometimes they can stop suddenly. The menopause is a natural part of ageing that usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, as a woman’s oestrogen levels decline. In the UK, the average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 51. Postmenopausal bleeding is vaginal bleeding that happens at least 12 months after your periods have stopped. Although it’s a common problem, it’s not normal to bleed at this time – even if it’s just spotting – so don’t ignore it. Make an appointment to see your GP as soon as possible.