Menu

How to stop a nosebleed: lean forward, pinch the right spot, and when to get help

Reviewed by Dr Sumbal Safi Ullah✓, MBBS

By 5 min readPublisher: Saadat Rafiq

Last updated: 28 October 2026References

Set preferred
Illustration of a woman sitting at a table, leaning forward and pinching the soft lower part of her nose, a folded tissue in her other handIllustration
On this page 8 sections

In short

Sit down, lean forward and pinch the soft part of your nose just above the nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes without letting go, breathing through your mouth. Don't tilt your head back. If it is still bleeding after that, go to A&E (NHS).

Jump to the steps

At a glance

Position
Sit up and lean forward, not back (NHS)
Pinch
Soft part just above the nostrils, 10 to 15 minutes (NHS, HSE)
For 24 hours after
No blowing or picking, hot drinks, alcohol, heavy lifting or lying flat (NHS)
Go to A&E
Still bleeding after 10 to 15 minutes, heavy bleeding, or after a blow to the head (NHS)
Advice from
NHS, HSE (Ireland) and Mayo Clinic, read 28 October 2026
Checked
October 2026

Most nosebleeds are not a sign of anything serious and can be stopped at home (NHS). What matters is the position and the patience: lean forward, not back, and keep pressing for the full time without checking. The same steps work for a child; help them sit and lean forward, and hold the pinch for them if they can't.

How to stop the bleeding

  1. Sit down and lean forward.

    Illustration of a woman seated on a chair, her upper body and head tilted forward over her knees, mouth slightly open
    Illustration

    Tilt your head forward, not back, and keep your mouth open (NHS). Sitting up and leaning forward keeps blood from running down your throat (Mayo Clinic). Don't lie down (HSE).

    You should see: blood dripping forward from the nose onto a tissue or into a bowl, not running into your mouth.

  2. Pinch the soft part of your nose, just above the nostrils.

    Close-up illustration of a thumb and forefinger squeezing both sides of the soft lower nose just above the nostrils, below the hard bony bridge
    Illustration: pinch the soft part, not the bony bridge

    Use your thumb and finger to squeeze both nostrils shut (Mayo Clinic). The spot is the soft part just above the nostrils (NHS), below the hard bridge of the nose.

    You should see: both nostrils pressed closed, so no blood comes out while you pinch.

  3. Keep pinching for 10 to 15 minutes and breathe through your mouth.

    Illustration of a woman leaning forward and pinching her nose while a kitchen timer sits on the table in front of her
    Illustration

    Start a timer. The NHS and HSE both say 10 to 15 minutes. Don't let go to check: Mayo Clinic says not to release to look for at least five minutes. Keep the pressure steady for the whole time.

    You should see: after the time is up, when you let go slowly, little or no fresh blood.

  4. If you like, hold something cold on the top of your nose.

    Illustration of a woman pinching her nose with one hand while holding a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel on the bridge of her nose with the other
    Illustration

    An ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel on top of the nose may help reduce bleeding, though the NHS says the evidence for this is not strong. The HSE says cold on the neck or nose, or chewing ice, may help. Keep pinching while you do it.

    You should see: the cold pack wrapped in cloth, never ice straight on the skin.

  5. Careful: if it is still bleeding after 10 to 15 minutes, the NHS says go to A&E. Don't drive yourself.

    Let go slowly and check whether it has stopped.

    Illustration of a woman lowering her hand from her nose and dabbing gently under her nostrils with a clean tissue
    Illustration

    Mayo Clinic (US) says to pinch again for up to 15 minutes if it is still bleeding, and to get emergency care if it doesn't stop after the second try or lasts over 30 minutes. In the UK, follow the NHS timing above. A blood clot may come out after the bleeding has stopped; the HSE says this is normal, so wipe it away gently.

    You should see: no fresh blood dripping, and no blood trickling down the back of your throat.

  6. Take it easy for the next 24 hours.

    Illustration of a woman resting upright on a sofa with a glass of cool water, a heavy box and a steaming mug set aside out of reach
    Illustration

    For 24 hours after the bleeding stops, the NHS says not to blow or pick your nose or any scabs, and to avoid hot drinks, alcohol, heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and lying flat. Mayo Clinic adds not to bend your head below your heart for many hours.

    You should see: the nose staying dry. If it starts again, go back to the first step.

How to tell it has stopped

  • No fresh blood comes from either nostril when you sit upright.
  • You are not swallowing blood or tasting it at the back of your throat.
  • You feel well: not weak, dizzy or short of breath (NHS).
  • Any clot that comes out afterwards is not followed by new bleeding (HSE).

If it doesn't go to plan

What happensWhat it meansWhat to do
Blood runs into your mouth or throatYour head is tilted back or uprightLean further forward (NHS, Mayo Clinic)
Still bleeding after 10 to 15 minutes of pinchingHome first aid isn't enoughGo to A&E, don't drive yourself (NHS)
It starts again later the same dayThe clot was disturbedRepeat the steps, then avoid blowing, hot drinks and lifting for 24 hours (NHS)
You feel faint or dizzyYou may have lost a lot of bloodGo to A&E or call 999 (NHS)
Nosebleeds keep coming backA blood vessel may need treatingSee a GP. A doctor may seal it or pack the nose (NHS)

Questions readers ask

Should I tilt my head back to stop a nosebleed?

No. The NHS says to lean forward with your head tilted forward, not back. Mayo Clinic explains that leaning forward stops blood running down your throat.

Should I blow my nose before pinching it?

Mayo Clinic suggests gently blowing your nose first to clear clots; the NHS steps start straight with pinching. Both agree you should not blow your nose once the bleeding has stopped: the NHS says avoid it for 24 hours.

Why do I get nosebleeds?

The NHS lists picking your nose, blowing it too hard and a dry inside of the nose, for example from a change in air temperature, as common causes. Children, adults over 45, pregnant women and people with high blood pressure get them more often.

How can I stop nosebleeds coming back?

Avoid the triggers for 24 hours after a bleed (NHS). Mayo Clinic says a humidifier at home adds moisture that can help. If you get them often, see a GP: a doctor can seal a bleeding blood vessel (NHS).

Did this solve the problem?

What did you think?

Reaction counts are loading.

Spotted a mistake? If a step is unclear or a picture is inaccurate, tell us the step number and what needs correcting. Email us about this page or use the contact form. We read every report, and fixes are listed on What changed.

Liked this article?

Follow us for new articles and short how-to videos.

Subscribe on YouTubeFollow on InstagramFollow on FacebookFollow on XFollow on ThreadsFollow on Pinterest