When a nosebleed strikes, it can come as a surprise. Nosebleeds can be triggered by being knocked in the nose or for any seemingly unexpected or unknown reason. No matter where you are in the Twin Cities, though, a convenient Urgency Room location can help you in a fraction of the time compared with an emergency room or physician appointment.
With standalone facilities in Eagan, Vadnais Heights and Woodbury, The Urgency Room is accessible to those in and around the Twin Cities Metro. Don’t put off seeing a physician just to continue suffering through nosebleeds. Instead, let’s find answers together. Because we’re owned and operated by the Emergency Physicians Professional Association (EPPA), you’re guaranteed the best urgent care in Minneapolis.
If you’re experiencing severe nosebleeds, you might feel surprised or scared. It can be a traumatic event and especially shocking if one lasts a long time or starts for unknown reasons. By coming into your nearest Urgency Room, we can help assess, diagnose and treat your mild to severe nosebleeds quickly so you can get back to living a healthy, happy life.
What Kinds of Nosebleeds Are There?
There are two types of nosebleeds: anterior and posterior. Anterior nosebleeds make up roughly 90% of nosebleeds. These types of nosebleeds are usually easily controlled and occur when blood vessels at the very front of the nose are bleeding. Posterior nosebleeds are less common and occur when an artery toward the back of the nose is bleeding.
Posterior nosebleeds can be much more serious than the typical anterior nosebleed. If you’re experiencing a posterior nosebleed, you may need to stay in a hospital or see an ear, nose and throat specialist to further assess why the artery was bleeding. With either type of nosebleed, if an excessive amount of blood is lost or the bleeding lasts for a longer-than-normal time, checking in with a physician at The Urgency Room is a good idea.
What Causes a Nosebleed?
While there are only two types of nosebleeds, there are many causes for them. Reasons a nosebleed shows up in your life range from irritation to disease—minor to serious. For minor causes, your nosebleed can most likely be treated right at home. However, more serious causes could land you in the hospital.
The most common reasons for nosebleeds are nose-picking or cold weather. Both reasons cause inner-nose trauma. Nose-picking can obviously tear, scratch or irritate the inside of your nose to the point of bleeding. Cold weather, on the other hand, is less controllable. When the air is cold and dry, the inside of your nose tends to dry out, leaving the fragile capillary walls within susceptible to breaking and bleeding. Both of these causes are minor, however they could lead to a severe nosebleed that should be seen by a professional to ensure proper treatment and recovery.
Less common, but very severe, causes for nosebleeds include potential disease. If it is difficult for your body to clot blood due to blood-thinning drugs or liver disease you could experience frequent and severe nosebleeds. You may also have abnormal blood vessels or cancers in your nose. Some signs that an inability to clot blood may be the cause for your nosebleed include bleeding from other parts of your body, too, such as your gums.
When Should You Come to The Urgency Room for a Nosebleed?
Nosebleeds may be a common occurrence in your life or they may be a rare event. No matter the frequency, it could be a good idea to get your nose looked at in the event you have unchecked medical needs such as cancer or a tumor.
Severe nosebleeds can be especially frightening and cause you to lose a lot of blood. If you experience a severe nosebleed, get to your nearest Urgency Room. Other reasons to see a physician after enduring a nosebleed include:
- Excessive occurrence
- Excessive duration
- If you bruise easily
- If you are taking a blood thinner (like Warfarin or aspirin)
- If you have blood in your urine or stool
You should also seek immediate urgent treatment if your nose continues bleeding after 10 minutes have passed, you cough up blood, you become weak or dizzy, or if you have trouble breathing. Also, be sure to keep an eye on your temperature. If you develop a temp above 101.4 degrees Fahrenheit, seek medical care as soon as you can.
Once you are in the hands of a physician, they may want to examine your nose. To do so, they will try and stop the bleeding or identify the source by numbing the inside of your nostril before looking inside. Because spotting the source of a posterior nosebleed is very difficult, it can usually be assumed that was the source once all possible anterior nosebleed causes have been ruled out.
Aftercare at The Urgency Room
After seeing us for the fast treatment you need for your mild to severe nosebleed, we won’t leave you guessing about what to do next. Our library of aftercare videos means you’ll always have answers to your questions about what to do next or how to care for your injury.
Some things to keep in mind, though, after experiencing a severe nosebleed: Try to keep from blowing your nose or sneezing for at least 24 hours, stay away from dry air, avoid blood-thinning drugs, and remember that ice packs won’t help. Very severe nosebleeds, usually posterior ones, may require further care and assessment, especially if the bleeding doesn’t stop.
Any Urgency Room location in Eagan, Woodbury or Vadnais Heights is open to help you from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM 365 days per year; that means holidays, too. Our professional and experienced staff is waiting for you to show you how fast your path to health can be. Don’t avoid receiving treatment for minor, serious or chronic injuries and ailments just to avoid a long wait in the emergency room. Here you’ll be seen quickly, treated professionally and diagnosed accurately to receive the best care possible.