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Home > Symptoms > Nose Bleeding (Epistaxis) Symptoms - Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

Nose Bleeding (Epistaxis) Symptoms - Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

Nose Bleeding (Epistaxis) Symptoms - Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

Nosebleeds occur when one of the blood vessels in your nose ruptures. They can be caused by an infection, injury, allergic reaction, picking your nose or another object being wedged into your nose. Nosebleeds are quite common in children and are usually not serious; however, you should seek medical attention if they're frequent or prolonged.

What is Nose Bleeding

Nosebleeds happen all the time. Sometimes they're scary, but they don't usually indicate anything severe. The nose has lots of blood vessels, close to the surface at the front and back of the nose. They’re as fragile as polka dots and are easily traumatized by things like blowing your nose too hard, sneezing and picking your nose. Nosebleeds are common in adults and children 3-10 years old.

A nosebleed (sanguinolent epistaxis) can happen in two spots.

  • Anterior Nosebleed: An anterior nosebleed is when blood vessels in the front of the nose break and bleed.
  • Posterior Nosebleed: A posterior nosebleed is when there's a blockage in the back or deepest part of the nose, like where blood flows down the back of your throat.

Nosebleeds can be caused by a number of things, including but not limited to: allergies, picking at or blowing your nose too hard, high blood pressure, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (a condition that causes enlarged blood vessels), and trauma to the face or head.

Types of Nose Bleeding

There are four types of nosebleeds: anterior, posterior, epistaxis, and caudal. Anterior nosebleeds make up 90% of all nosebleeds and occur when blood vessels in the front of the nose break. Posterior nosebleeds are much less common and occur when blood vessels in the back of the nose break. Epistaxis is a medical term for bleeding from the nostrils and can be caused by both anterior and posterior nosebleeds. Caudal nosebleeds are very rare and occur when blood vessels in the base of the skull rupture.

Causes of Nose Bleeding

There are a few different things that can cause nosebleeds, which is why it’s important to see your doctor if you experience them frequently. Here are some of the most common causes:

  • Dryness: This is the most common cause of nosebleeds. When the inside of your nose gets too dry, it can crack and bleed. This can be caused by a number of things, including cold weather, low humidity, or heavy nasal drainage.
  • Allergies: Allergies can also cause your nose to become dry and cracked, which can lead to bleeding.
  • Infection: A sinus infection or other type of infection can cause inflammation and lead to nosebleeds.
  • Trauma: Nosebleeds can also be caused by trauma, such as a blow to the head or nose.

Symptoms of Nosebleeding

Most nosebleeds are not serious and can be treated at home. However, if you have a nosebleed that lasts longer than 20 minutes or soaks through more than one gauze pad, you should seek medical attention.

 Symptoms of a nosebleed may include: 

  1. Blood coming from one or both nostrils: If you are experiencing blood coming from one or both nostrils, it is important to seek medical attention as this could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. In some cases, nosebleeds can be caused by an injury to the nose or face. However, if you are not sure what has caused your nose to bleed, it is best to err on the side of caution and have it checked out by a doctor. Other causes of nosebleeds include high blood pressure, blood clotting disorders, or certain medications.
  2. 2. Bloody drainage down the back of the throat: If you’re experiencing bloody drainage down the back of your throat, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. This could be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a ruptured blood vessel or nosebleed.
  3. Bloody drainage is often caused by an injury to the nose or face: It can also be caused by a foreign object in the nose, such as a piece of glass or metal. If you have any objects in your nose, it’s important to remove them before seeking medical attention.
  4. Clots of blood in the nostrils: If you have a nosebleed, you may notice clots of blood in your nostrils. These clots are usually harmless and will eventually go away on their own. However, if you have a lot of nosebleeds or if they last for more than 10 minutes, you should see a doctor.

Preventing Nose Bleeding

There are a few things you can do to prevent nosebleeds: 

  • Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or a saline-based nasal gel to the inside of your nostrils with your finger. This will help keep the lining of your nose moist.
  • Avoid picking or blowing your nose too hard.
  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. This will help keep the lining of your nose from drying out.

If you have allergies, take steps to control them. Allergies can dry out the inside of your nose and make it more susceptible to bleeding.

Conclusion

There are many potential causes of nosebleeds, but the most common is simply drying out of the nasal passages. This can be caused by everything from cold weather to allergies to medications. If you experience frequent nosebleeds, it's important to see a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions. In most cases, though, nosebleeds are nothing to worry about and can be treated at home with simple self-care measures.

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