Excellent Health Tips - what causes nose bleed

What causes nose bleed :

According to medicalnewstoday, "The medical term for nosebleed is epistaxis. We can also say nasal hemorrhage. The human nose and those of many animals are rich in blood vessels. Because of the position of the nose - right in the middle of the face - and all its blood vessels, most of us will have had at least one nosebleed at some time during our lives.

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, epistaxis means "Bleeding from the nose". Nosebleeds are seldom a cause for alarm but can be life threatening in rare cases. Dr Ashim Desai, ENT Surgeon, Nova Specialty Surgery, Tardeo, Mumbai talks about the different reasons that can causes nose bleeds from injury, allergy, infection or any other reason.

Nose Bleed Causes #1

Allergic rhinitis: Due to the body's response to allergy, the delicate tissues lining the nose swell. The capillaries dilate and sometimes burst causing bleeding that could be slight streaks whenever you blow your nose.

Treatment: A skin allergy testing is advisable, and on finding the cause of allergy, proper precautionary measures should be taken. Anti-allergic and decongestant medicines are prescribed. Vaccines are available (Oral and subdermal) on the advice of your specialist.

Nose Bleed Causes #2

Sometimes bleeding is precipitated by extreme climatic dryness. This is often seen in patients who have a septal deviation because the airflow is more rapid through a narrow area, creating even more dryness. This causes irritation, followed by nose-picking. This causes bleeding.

Nose Bleed Causes #3

Frequent habitual nose-picking causes ulcers to form on the delicate linings of the septum (the central partition between the nostrils) and this causes bleeding.

Children have frequent nosebleeds from the blood vessels on the front of the nasal septum, which is often due to colds or nose-picking. This can be controlled with pinching and cold compresses. They should lubricate the nose with either Vaseline or coconut/olive oil which prevents them from nose picking.

Nose Bleed Causes #4

Dark colored or foul smelling bleeding in adults could signify a sinus infection or a tumor. These require an endoscopic examination and CT scanning.
Foul smelling blood stained discharge in small children could signify a nasal foreign body. They would require an endoscopic examination and removal under anesthesia.

Nose Bleed Causes #5

If a young adolescent male has frequent episodes of profuse fresh nosebleeds he could possibly have a tumor called a juvenile angiofibroma (a tumor of the blood vessels) which will require an angiography and surgical excision.

Pregnant women frequently have nosebleeds due to physiological changes in the nasal passages, sometimes if they have PIH (pregnancy related hypertension) in which case they need to consult their gynecologist.

Nose Bleed Causes #6

Hypertension is a frequent cause of nosebleeds in the elderly, which can be controlled by keeping them in a propped up position, pinching the nose and keeping the mouth open.

Nose Bleed Causes #7

In case of severe nose bleeds the patient will have to be admitted, the vital signs monitored and the blood checked to rule out bleeding disorders. Blood grouping and cross matching should be done too as a transfusion may be required. Sometimes it is necessary to pack the nose, which can either be done with merocel packing or nasal balloons. Sometimes it is necessary even to pack the passage behind the nose. Once the bleed settles an endoscopic examination is done and any visible blood vessels or ulcers could be dealt with by cautery or laser.