Got a nosebleed? Stay calm, sit down, and don't tilt your head back

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If you have ever experienced a nosebleed, your first reaction would have been to tilt your head back to stop the flow. But did you know that this "solution" might do your body more harm than good?

Most of us would have experienced a nosebleed at least once in our lives. They may occur spontaneously or from trauma, such as nose picking or a hit. Dr Ben Lam, resident physician at Raffles Medical Hong Kong, says spontaneous nosebleeds are common in people who have a thin nasal mucosa or nose lining.

The problem can be congenital - that is, the individual is born with it - or as a result of medication, such as the prolonged use of nasal spray. He adds that there is no direct association with high blood pressure and nasal bleeds, but in patients with high blood pressure, the bleeding is more difficult to control.

Nosebleeds can be classified as bleeding from the front or the back of the nose. Typically, the bleeding originates from the anterior part of the nose, in an area known as the Little's area. This is an area where four arteries join.