(HealthDay News) -- If you get a nosebleed, don't panic. Many nosebleeds look worse than they really are, says the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Here's the academy's advice on steps to help stop a nosebleed:

• Sit down, and tilt your body forward slightly. Keep your head positioned above your heart, but allow the blood to drain from your nose, not down your throat.
• Use your thumb and index finger and gently apply pressure near the end of the nose, at the soft part.
• Hold your fingers in that position for at least five minutes, then check if the bleeding has stopped.
• If the nose is still bleeding, hold it for at least 10 minutes more without releasing.
• Place an ice pack or cold compress across your nose.
• Leave the nose alone once it stops bleeding, and don't blow your nose or bend over.

Related MedlinePlus Pages:

• First Aid
• Nose Disorders