Nosebleeds, also known as epistaxis, occur when the blood vessels in the nasal mucosa are damaged. This is very common in young children and is usually nothing serious. Don’t panic, here we explain the main causes of nosebleeds, from mild to serious.
Why does the nose bleed?
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The lining of the nose is full of tiny blood vessels that are very close to the surface.
The skin inside the nose is very delicate and is easily damaged, torn and split.
When they are scratched or irritated they can explode.
The blood that comes out of the nose is what we know as a nosebleed.
Causes of nosebleed
There are three common causes of nosebleeds, which are:
- pick the nose
- Blow your nose too loud
- The inside of the nose is too dry (due to a change in air temperature)
Usually, this will stop in 15 minutes and resolve itself.
Dry air is the most common cause and this can be due to living in a dry climate or when using central heating.
Blowing your nose too much and taking antihistamines and decongestants it will also dry out the membrane.
All of these things dry out the nasal membranes and make scabs form, and when scratched, they temporarily bleed.
Other times, nosebleeds come from deep within the nose.
This type of bleeding is more common in adults and can be caused by:
- An injury or a strong blow
- Hypertension
- Diseases that affect the blood vessels or the way blood clots
- Taking certain medications, such as aspirin or warfarin
When can nosebleeds be dangerous?
Sometimes the cause of a nosebleed is unknown, and some studies have shown that factors such as anxiety and stress can trigger them.
Some people are more prone to nosebleeds, such as children under the age of 11, the elderly, and pregnant women.
If you can’t figure out what’s causing your nosebleeds and they’re frequent, you should see a doctor.
If your nosebleed lasts longer than 10 to 15 minutes and the bleeding seems excessive, you should go to the ER.
This is especially important if you are swallowing a large amount of blood that makes you vomit, makes you feel weak or dizzy, and has difficulty breathing.
If you think you don’t have the above symptoms, but the bleeding started after a blow to the head, you should go to the ER.