Q: Why do I keep getting nosebleeds and is it serious??
A: First of all, don’t panic! Nosebleeds are very common and are rarely due to a serious medical problem, like tumors, extremely high blood pressure or bleeding disorders. About 60% of adults experience nosebleeds but less than 10% require medical attention.
By far the most common cause of nose bleeds is nose picking! The blood vessels in the nose that bleed most often are located in the front part of the nasal septum (the middle part between your nostrils); they are fragile and can bleed pretty easily if traumatized. Other common causes include:
- Breathing dry air (i.e. our lovely Ohio winters, running the heater indoors, etc)
- Sinus infections
- Forceful nose blowing
- Seasonal allergies
- Allergy medications (both pills and nose sprays can dry out the lining of the nose)
- Snorting cocaine
Here are some helpful tips on stopping and preventing nosebleeds. Following these simple steps should take care of the vast majority of nosebleeds you might experience. If they don’t work or the nosebleeds keep coming back, come in and see us – we can do an exam and if necessary, some simple lab tests or a referral to a specialist to rule out more serious causes of nosebleeds. But again, these are rarely required.
If you are having uncontrollable bleeding, bleeding going down the back of your throat, or are feeling like you’re going to pass out, you need to call 911 get to your nearest ER right away.
John A. Vaughn, MD
Student Health Services
The Ohio State University
Hello, I just thought I’d add that nose bleeds could be an indication of what is called “Chronic Sinusitis”, which this article hinted at briefly, but if you need more informationa about that possibility here is a good resource. http://www.csallergy.com/chronic-sinusitis/
I had nosebleed yesterday and today. I don’t pick my nose,and when I blow my nose pieces of blood cloths come out. And yes I do have the blood in the back of the throat, actually swallowing the blood. It’s happening too often
If you believe this is happening too frequently, then schedule an appointment with your doctor.
My best friend had a nose bleed a day back. He suffers from epilepsia and has a small tumor in his left chest. He even had tuberculosis in the past but now he is completely well off and healthy. Yet why did he bleed then? He even suffers from depression. And we have a tropical autumn weather. So what is the cause of his nose bleed?
Was it a full blown nose bleed or just blood when he blew his nose, but nothing dripping? Sometimes in the fall, when the weather becomes dry there can be blood when you blow your nose, but not really a bleed. If it was a full blown nose bleed and this is not normal for your friend, and considering all of his health issues, he might want to run it by his doctor just to be safe.