Swallowing this much blood can't be healthy

September 16, 2007 5:00 PM

How to deal with the anti-coagulating effects of Aspirin when it comes to nosebleeds?

I got sick a few days ago - might've been a common cold, might've been something else. It wasn't too serious, my stomach felt a bit upset and my nose congested, but that was it.

I started feeling headache-y/nauseous and slightly fevery last night, so I took an aspirin. It was the only thing available to me at the time and the antipyretic effects sounded like they were what I needed, though I don't recall ever using aspirin prior to this.

I woke up this morning congested and with a bit of a nosebleed, which by itself isn't a huge issue, except the anticoagulating effects of the aspirin seems to be preventing it from clotting. It's been acting up on and off all day, and is exceedingly annoying.

Background info: I used to be quite prone to nosebleeds as a child, but that has gradually slowed down the past few years. I'm also prone to 'chemical imbalances' - there's no term for it in English as far as I'm aware of. In Mandarin Chinese it's the equivalent of "Fire-air". Basically, if you eat too much dry/spicy stuff, it messes with your body's homeostasis and you get nosebleeds or canker sores and the like.

AskMe: How do I stop the nosebleeding, short of lying on my back with my head propped up for the rest of the evening? Is there any way of flushing aspirin from my system? I have a full day of class tomorrow, and I don't want to have to deal with this then.

posted by Phire to health (8 comments total)

1. Student health - yes, I know it typically sucks, but hey it's a health care option. Nosebleeds shouldn't last this long.
2. Stop taking aspirin - consider a different medication for pain/fever relief (ie, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc.)
3. The traditional way to stop bleeding is elevation and pressure and for nosebleeds, you might consider also an ice pack to help slow things down.
posted by plinth at 5:38 PM on September 16, 2007

Sit up and pinch your nose for 5 or minutes or so. While breathing through your mouth, of course.

You can use a nasal spray like Afrin. They contain oxymetazoline, a chemical that constricts blood vessels. I wouldn't use sprays like Afrin more than a few times. They can damage the mucous membranes and make things worse in the long run.

IANAD, so take this advice with a tiny grain of salt.

Good luck.
posted by LoriFLA at 5:43 PM on September 16, 2007

- Never tilt your head back for a nosebleed. That drains all the blood into your throat and leads to swallowing a lot of blood, as you've discovered. You should always tilt your head forward between your knees. Keep steady, unchanging pressure on your nose for several minutes. Don't check to see if the bleeding's stopped every few seconds - just hold it there for a while.

- One aspirin last night shouldn't be affecting your ability to clot to that extent. If the problems, continue, see a medical professional.

Basically, if you eat too much dry/spicy stuff, it messes with your body's homeostasis and you get nosebleeds or canker sores and the like

That sounds like something you might want to talk to a doctor or dietician about.
posted by chrisamiller at 5:45 PM on September 16, 2007

As a nose bleed prone child myself- my doctor told me to do daily swabs of vaseline in the nose to keep the membranes moist to prevent bleeding. It worked for me. I'm not talking gobbs- just a thin layer.
posted by MayNicholas at 7:01 PM on September 16, 2007

I don't agree with chrisamiller. Aspirin is a powerful anticoagulant.

The only way to fix this is not to take aspirin again. If you were in a hospital and the effect needed to be reversed immediately, the only option would be platelet transfusion.
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:44 PM on September 16, 2007

Powerful is not the same as long acting. Aspirin's effect should normally wear off after about 24 hours. It would appear that your tendency to nosebleed has a lot to do with this. Frequesnt nosebleeds can be related to local dryness which can be addressed as above.

Suggestions above such as - tilt hear forward and not to take aspirin again are all good ones and should be followed. If you are not otherwise allergic or intolerant to paracetamol (acetamenophen) it is a very safe option.
posted by london302 at 3:25 AM on September 17, 2007

In the future, take paracetamol instead of aspirine. It doesn't act as an anticoagulant. Buy plain paracetamol, aka acetaminophen. Paying extra to have it say Tylenol or Panadol on the box is a tax on ignorance.

Of course you know about not mixing drugs with alcohol. Be even more careful with paracetamol, drinking while taking it will damage your liver.
posted by stereo at 5:28 AM on September 17, 2007

Oh, and cold packs, applied on the arteries of the nose.

Be careful with vaseline. As a child, we had a sterile seawater spray called Sterimar. I think it's only available in Europe, but am sure you can find similar sprays wherever you are.
posted by stereo at 5:40 AM on September 17, 2007