What To Do When Your Nose Starts Bleeding

There are lots of reasons why you might get a nosebleed. Nasal allergies, frequent sneezing, an injury to your nose, or dry air are among the most common causes according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

No matter what the cause, a nosebleed can really be a startling experience. While nosebleeds look scary, they’re usually pretty benign, and in most cases you can treat them at home—or wherever they happen to occur.

One of the first mistakes many people make is to tilt their heads back. Don’t do that. Instead lean your head forward just a little bit and allow the blood to drip out. The reason for this is that you don’t want the blood to go into the back of your throat and down into your stomach where it can make your feel queasy.

The next thing to do is pinch your nose closed for five minutes. This is the same as putting pressure on a wound. It will help to stop the bleeding. After five minutes, check to see if the bleeding has stopped. If it hasn’t, try again for another five minutes. Try a third time, if need be. After that, if you’re still bleeding, it’s probably time to visit an urgent care facility for help.

In addition to pinching the nose to put pressure on the wound, applying an icepack to the bridge of the nose for ten minutes can help. Ice will also help to reduce inflammation and pain later on if the nosebleed is due to an injury.

Most nosebleeds can be prevented by moisturizing the inside of the nose. You can use a saline gel or aloe vera gel. When the humidity in your area is low, just put a little on a Q-tip and swab the inside of your nose. If humidity in your area is always low, consider a home humidifier. They can make a big difference.

If you’re prone to nosebleeds, supplementing with quercetin may also help. Quercetin helps reduce allergic reactions (one of the common causes of nosebleeds) and also supports capillary function, which can help, too.

Nosebleeds are a bit nerve-wracking, but they are something you can easily deal with and prevent using the tips here.

Stay well,
Danny Wallace

A Supplement to Relieve Your Allergies

Spring has arrived! Finally. And with it comes allergies.

If you suffer from pollen and other outdoor—or indoor—allergies, a study appearing in this month’s issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has good news for you.

Researchers found that supplementing with folic acid can help relieve your allergy symptoms. When you have allergies, your body’s immune system produces more IgE antibodies than it needs to. The result is they typical allergy response—watery eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose.

However, people who have higher levels of folic acid in their system also have less IgE antibodies—that means fewer allergy symptoms.

Currently researchers don’t fully understand how folic acid works to reduce IgE production, so further research in merited before doctors start using folic acid supplements to treat allergies.

That being said, many people don’t get enough folic acid from their diets as it is, so if you suffer from allergies you should at least make sure you’re getting some folic acid from your multi-vitamin. You need between 400 and 800 mcg each day between food and your supplements.

In addition to folic acid, there are other supplements that you can consider for allergy relief.

One of my favorites is quercetin. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid found in fruits and vegetables like apples and red onions. When taken as a supplement quercetin helps to keep your cells from releasing histamines that produce allergy symptoms. Rather than reducing the level of IgE antibodies, quercetin works to reduce the reaction of your cells to the antibodies.

Another good supplement is gamma linolenic acid, or GLA. This is an essential fatty acid that helps to reduce inflammation. Some research shows that people with allergies tend to have lower levels of GLA in their systems. By supplementing with GLA, you might lower your allergy symptoms. The best way to supplement with GLA is to take evening primrose oil.

Allergies can make the nicest weather seem miserable, but with these supplements, you can begin to bring your allergies under control… and then you can love the summer again.

Stay well,
Meghan Krohn

Prostate Drug Fails to Relieve Prostatitis

News released this week reports that a common drug for prostatitis doesn't actually work. The drug Alfuzosin failed to perform better than placebo at relieving the symptoms of a chronically inflamed prostate.

When your prostate becomes inflamed, it can make your life miserable. It can lead to chronic pain and discomfort, difficulties urinating, even sexual problems.

Many men in this situation turn to their doctors. And that's good. An inflamed prostate is something your doctor should know about, and of course, you want to rule out prostate cancer. When it comes to treatment, though, prescription drugs might not be your best option.

There are natural supplements that can help to relieve inflammation and reduce the symptoms of your prostatitis.

Quercetin: This nutrient has been getting a lot of attention lately for its heart-healthy benefits. But quercetin doesn't just benefit your heart. It reduces inflammation throughout your body and can help to relieve your prostate problems. In one study, two thirds of the patients taking quercetin saw significant improvement in their prostatitis symptoms. (Urology 1999)

Zinc: This common mineral may also reduce your prostatitis symptoms. Zinc has long been known to benefit the prostate and in one study researchers found that plasma zinc concentrations are lower in men with prostatitis. (Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue 2008)

Prostatitis is not something you should ignore. It can decrease your quality of life and make you suffer from constant pain and urination problems. If you have the symptoms of prostatitis, you should talk to your doctor. Also, try these two supplements to see if they make a difference for you.

Stay well,
Heather Robwell