Is it good to run when your sick with a stuffed nose?

Why won't my nose stop bleeding?

• I came down with a very nasty head could about two weeks ago. This past Friday night I swallowed so much phlegm that I ended up throwing up. The event maxed out the pressure in my nose, and the congestion broke in a volcano of blood. I've NEVER had a nose bleed in my life (I'm 20 and have been hit in the face my fair share). I didn't think too much of it the first day, but I've had a bloody nose every single morning for the last 5 days now. I'll seem to stop up, but then I'll sneeze or blow my nose and it'll start again. Furthermore, this cold doesn't seem to want to go away. My discomfort is getting worse if anything. Half the time I'm still stuffed up, and when I'm not it hurts to breath through my nose. It's just starting to disturb me, I've never had nose bleeds before and it's starting to get on my sheets and clothes and I'm swallowing so much blood it's making my stomach upset. What could be causing this? What can I do to help it? I'm in the middle of midterms this week and barely have enough time to eat let alone go spend 3 hours in urgent care if this is something that just has to run it's course anyway.

• Answer:

  It sounds like your sinus passages have become very irritated and sensitive, and perhaps have become ruptured from the cold. It's going to take time to heal and since you still have symptoms you need to relieve those symptoms as much as you can. Drinking hot drink and breathing the steam help. And I suggest chewing on some mints - the mint can help clear your nasal passages. One thing - if you are blowing your nose hard, don't do that, be as gentle as you can. Here are some tips to help stop the bleeding, see below. Note - if this continues for more than a couple more days, you need to see a doctor. This kind of thing can happen frequently with colds, it's not unheard of by any means - the pressure from the cold and congestion, and blowing your nose hard can be the reason. The first step to stopping any nosebleed is always the same: stop the bleeding. This can be done by complying with the following steps: Sit down and pinch the soft parts of your nose firmly, breathing through your mouth. Lean forward, not backward, in order to prevent the blood from draining into your sinuses and throat, which can result in inhaling the blood or gagging. Sit upright so that your head is higher than your heart to reduce blood pressure and consequently stop further bleeding. Continue putting pressure on the nose, leaning forward, and sitting upright for a minimum of five minutes and up to 20 minutes so that the blood clots. If bleeding persists for more than 20 minutes, medical attention is required. Apply an ice pack to your nose and cheek to soothe the area and try not to strain yourself for the next few days. Here's the site were I pulled the info for stopping bleeding - you can read more if you need to: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164823.php