Nosebleeds involve bleeding from the inside of your nose.
Many people have occasional nosebleeds, particularly younger children and older adults.
On medical language it is also called epistaxes.
Although nosebleeds may be scary, they're generally only a minor annoyance and aren't dangerous. Frequent nosebleeds are those that occur more than once a week.
Causes
The lining of your nose contains many tiny blood vessels that lie close to the surface and are easily damaged.
The two most common causes of nosebleeds are dry air — when your nasal membranes dry out, they're more susceptible to bleeding and infections and nose picking
Other causes of nosebleeds include:
- Acute sinusitis (sinus infection)
- Allergies
- Bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia
- Blood thinners (anticoagulants), such as warfarin and heparin
- Chemical irritants, such as ammonia
- Common cold
- Foreign body in the nose
- Nasal sprays, such as those used to treat allergies, if used frequently
- Trauma to the nose
Less common causes of nosebleeds include:
- Alcohol use
- Leukemia
- Nasal and paranasal tumors
- Nasal polyps
- Nasal surgery
- Pregnancy
In general, nosebleeds are not a symptom or result of high blood pressure. It is possible, but rare, that severe high blood pressure may worsen or prolong bleeding if you have a nosebleed.
When to see a doctor
Most nosebleeds aren't serious and will stop on their own or by following self-care steps.
Seek emergency medical care if nosebleeds:
- Follow an injury, such as a car accident
- Involve a greater than expected amount of blood
- Interfere with breathing
- Last longer than 30 minutes even with compression
- Occur in children younger than age 2
Talk to your doctor if you're having frequent nosebleeds, even if you can stop them fairly easily. It's important to determine the cause of frequent nosebleeds.
Self-care steps for occasional nosebleeds include:
- Sit upright and lean forward.
- Gently blow your nose to clear out any clotted blood.
- Pinch your nose for 10 to 15 minutes by the clock.
- If the bleeding doesn't stop, repeat these steps for up to a total of 15 minutes. Keep your head higher than the level of your heart.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/nosebleeds/basics/definition/sym-20050914
