Dear Dr. K: I get frequent nosebleeds throughout the year. What should I do when I get one? Also, are nosebleeds dangerous?

Dear Reader: Nosebleeds can be frightening, but they actually are very common. They are rarely serious or life-threatening, and usually can be stopped with local pressure and a little patience.

If you are otherwise healthy, it is probably safe for you to treat your nosebleed at home. Done correctly, simple first-aid measures should stop an uncomplicated nosebleed within minutes.

The six steps for treating a nosebleed are:

• Sit up, so your head is above the level of your heart, lean forward slightly and breathe through your mouth.
• With your thumb and index finger, pinch the entire front of your nose, just above your nostrils and below the hard, bony base, and hold for five minutes. (And remember to breathe through your mouth.)
• At the same time, use your other hand to apply an ice pack to the bridge of your nose. The cold temperature can slow blood flow. Keep the ice pack on for 15 minutes, even if the bleeding stops.
• After you have pinched your nose for five minutes, release it to see if your nose is still bleeding.
• If your nose still is bleeding, pinch it for an additional 10 minutes.
• Release your nose again. If you are still bleeding, seek emergency medical help.

The six steps for preventing future nosebleeds are:

• Don’t pick your nose.
• Be gentle whenever you blow your nose.
• Don’t smoke, and try to avoid secondhand smoke.
• Use a humidifier if your indoor climate is dry during the winter months.
• Use a nonprescription saline nasal spray to moisturize the inside of your nose.
• Apply a dab of petroleum jelly to the inside of your nostrils before bedtime.

Dr. Anthony Komaroff is a physician and a professor at Harvard Medical School. To ask a question or for details, go to askdoctork.com.