Seeing blood upsets and alarms many people. Nosebleeds are no exception, and this situation can be frightening for both the person experiencing the bleeding and those around them. In fact, you should know that most of the time, there is no need to panic. Nosebleeds, which are quite common and can be treated at home, involve blood coming from one or both nostrils. They can range from light to heavy bleeding and may last anywhere from a few seconds to 10 minutes.
The medical term for a nosebleed is “epistaxis.” It can happen to people of any age and has various causes. The nose contains many small blood vessels, and these are sensitive enough to bleed from even the slightest impact. Bleeding can originate from the front (anterior) or back (posterior) of the nose. Anterior nosebleeds may be caused by allergies, a cold, or a minor injury and are usually mild. They can generally be treated at home. On the other hand, posterior nosebleeds—which are more common in adults and may be caused by high blood pressure, tumors, or medications—are serious bleeds that may require medical intervention.
Dry Air
It might not immediately come to mind when thinking about the causes of nosebleeds, but dry air is one of the most common causes. When the nasal membranes dry out, they become more susceptible to bleeding and infection. In very cold weather, nosebleeds can occur as a result of the nasal mucosa drying out and cracking.
Blows, Fractures, and Injuries
In many cases of nosebleeds, the cause is a blow or injury of various kinds. Examples include a child trying to insert an object into their nose or an adult constantly picking their nose. Young children, in particular, love to pick their noses, which irritates the protective lining of the nose. For this reason, nosebleeds are common in children.
Fractures resulting from a severe blow to the nose due to an accident or a fight can also cause severe bleeding and deformity in the nose. Very rarely, a nosebleed may result from a blow to another part of the skull. Nosebleeds may also occur following nose or other facial surgeries.
Nose / Deviated Septum
The medical term for a deviated nose is “septal deviation.” Even if you haven’t heard this term before, you may have heard of “deviation” surgery, which is often cited as a reason for cosmetic procedures. The thin wall between the nostrils is ideally centered in the nose and divides the two nasal passages equally. However, in many people, this partition may be tilted to one side, narrowing one of the nasal passages. This reduces airflow on one side of the nose, leading to various symptoms such as difficulty breathing and nosebleeds. Dryness in the thin nasal wall makes the nose more susceptible to bleeding.
Blowing Your Nose
When we try to blow our noses with all our might to clear a stuffy nose and find relief, unfortunately, instead of finding relief, we may cause bleeding from ruptured nasal blood vessels. Nosebleeds due to forceful blowing are common in both children and adults. As uncomfortable as nasal congestion may be, it is best not to strain the nose too much while blowing it.
Respiratory Diseases
Sinusitis and hay fever can cause nosebleeds. A common cold or a more serious respiratory infection, such as the flu, can also cause bleeding. This is often due to the drying out of the nasal mucosa and the formation of crusts. Coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose can cause these crusts to crack, creating a wound that leads to bleeding.
Medications and Chemical Causes
The regular use of nasal sprays or illegal drugs such as cocaine is among the causes of nosebleeds. Prescription blood-thinning medications and over-the-counter aspirin, in particular, can also cause problems in this regard. Other types of medications can also cause nosebleeds, although this is rare. Chemicals used in industrial settings have also been known to cause nosebleeds. Before assuming your nosebleed is unexplained, review the medications you use regularly and consider whether you’ve been in an environment where you’ve been exposed to high concentrations of chemicals.
Coagulation Disorders
In individuals with conditions such as hemophilia, where the blood fails to clot properly, spontaneous nosebleeds are a common occurrence. In coagulation disorders, there is a deficiency in the factors that enable blood clotting, and the body cannot stop the bleeding effectively to heal itself. Prolonged bleeding, sudden bleeding episodes, unexplained large and dark bruises, as well as joint pain and swelling caused by internal bleeding, are among the other symptoms of hemophilia.
In older adults, since blood clotting may take longer, a nosebleed can become a dangerous situation due to blood loss.
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Nosebleeds are among the symptoms of hypertension. The body’s water and salt balance, the condition of the kidneys, nervous system, and blood vessels, and the levels of various hormones can all affect blood pressure. People under excessive stress, those with diabetes, obese individuals, those who consume excessive amounts of salt, smokers, alcoholics, and those with a family history of high blood pressure are at higher risk. However, in some patients, the primary cause of hypertension may remain unclear. Hypertension often does not present with symptoms. However, severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, or nosebleeds may indicate high blood pressure.
Vitamin K Deficiency
You might be surprised to hear that there could be a link between diet—which directly affects overall health—and nosebleeds. However, it is known that vitamin K deficiency can cause nosebleeds, in addition to other issues such as hemorrhoids and bleeding gums. Vitamin K facilitates blood clotting. Vitamin K is found in egg yolks, butter, milk, cheese, lettuce, okra, broccoli, squash, cabbage, spinach, green peppers, red meat, rice, bananas, kiwis, peaches, and strawberries.
Other Causes of Nosebleeds
- Liver Diseases
- Alcohol
- Tumors (rare)
When Is a Nosebleed Dangerous?
- If the bleeding does not stop despite taking the necessary precautions (the person with the nosebleed should be seated upright with their head tilted slightly forward, and the front of the nose should be gently pinched on both sides using the thumb and index finger of one hand) and has been going on for more than 10 minutes,
- If the bleeding is very severe,
- If the bleeding is obstructing breathing,
- If the bleeding starts again shortly after stopping,
- If nosebleeds have become very frequent,
- If blood-thinning medications are being used or there is a condition that causes blood clotting disorders,
- If the nosebleed started after a severe blow,
- If the nosebleed is accompanied by other abnormal symptoms such as a high fever, heart palpitations, a feeling of faintness, or bleeding elsewhere in the body, it is strongly recommended that you seek medical attention from a doctor or the nearest healthcare facility.