Why often nosebleeds

Hereditary clotting disorders, such as hemophilia and hemorrhagic telangiectasia , may cause recurring nosebleeds. Topical nasal medications, such as corticosteroids and antihistamines , can sometimes lead to nosebleeds. If you often use a nasal spray, the repeated irritation caused by the tip of the bottle could cause nosebleeds.

Certain dietary supplements can thin your blood and prolong bleeding, causing nosebleeds that are difficult to stop. These include:. Conditions such as congestive heart failure or hypertension can make you more prone to nosebleeds.

If you have a functional nasal deformity — congenital, cosmetic surgery, or injury related — it could lead to frequent nosebleeds. Tumors of the nose or sinuses — both malignant and nonmalignant — can lead to nosebleeds. This is more likely in older people and those who smoke. If you ingest cocaine or other drugs by snorting it into your nose, it can cause blood vessels in your nasal passages to rupture, leading to frequent nosebleeds. Get medical help right away if:.

Frequent nosebleeds that occur more than once a week may be a sign of a problem that should be evaluated. This can irritate your stomach. Use your thumb and index finger to squeeze together the soft portion of your nose. This area is located between the end of your nose and the hard, bony ridge that forms the bridge of your nose.

Keep holding your nose until the bleeding stops. Once the bleeding stops, wait a few hours before doing anything that might make it start again, such as bending over or blowing your nose. Your doctor will try to find out where the bleeding is coming from in your nose. He or she will probably ask you some questions and examine your nose. Cauterization involves using a special solution called silver nitrate or an electrical or heating device to burn the vessel so that it stops bleeding.

Your doctor will numb your nose before the procedure. Packing the nose involves putting special gauze or an inflatable latex balloon into the nose so that enough pressure is placed on the vessel to make it stop bleeding.

Nosebleeds can be a nuisance. They come on suddenly, often with no warning. This article was contributed by: familydoctor. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. You may hear conflicting reports from different sources. The U. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Food Poisoning. Learn the truth about chronic nosebleeds: Who is most at risk, why they happen and how to avoid them — and how to stop them when they occur.

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How To Manage Winter Asthma. Trending Topics. What Parents Need to Know. Getting Too Many Nosebleeds? This may involve looking inside your nose, measuring your pulse and blood pressure, carrying out blood tests and asking about any other symptoms you have. The main treatments that your GP or hospital doctor may use to stop your nose bleeding are described below. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic ointment. This should be applied by squeezing a pea-sized amount onto the front of the nasal septum wall between the nostrils.

This can reduce the inflammation and crusting in the nose and reduce the severity and frequency of nosebleeds. If your doctor is able to identify exactly where the bleeding is coming from, they may carry out a minor procedure to seal the bleeding blood vessel by cauterising burning it. This is normally done using a stick of a chemical called silver nitrate. A local anaesthetic will be sprayed into your nose to numb it and the silver nitrate stick will be held against the bleeding point for up to 10 seconds.

If cautery is ineffective or your doctor is unable to identify a specific bleeding point, they may recommend packing your nose with gauze or special nasal sponges to stop the flow of blood by applying pressure to the source of the bleeding. Packing will usually be carried out after local anaesthetic has been sprayed into your nose. The gauze or sponges often need to be left in place for hours before being removed by a health professional.

You'll usually need to be admitted to hospital to be monitored during this time. If the treatments above don't help, you may be referred to a hospital specialist such as an ear, nose and throat ENT doctor for further treatment. Once your nose has stopped bleeding, you should follow the advice below to reduce the risk of your nose bleeding again and to stop you picking up an infection:.

If you see a GP or a hospital doctor about your nosebleed, they may give you a prescription for an antiseptic nasal cream once the bleeding stops. This should be applied to the inside of your nostrils several times a day for up to two weeks to help prevent further bleeding. If your nose does start to bleed again, follow the first aid advice above and seek medical advice if the bleeding doesn't stop. Home Illnesses and conditions Ears, nose and throat Nosebleed.

Nosebleed See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About nosebleeds 2. Causes of nosebleeds 3. Treating nosebleeds.