We believe that everyone has experienced “nosebleeds” at least once in their lifetime. Even if it has never happened to themselves, they have probably witnessed or been in situations where friends or close people suddenly had a nosebleed, more or less. Many people may consider nosebleeds as just a common abnormal symptom caused by broken capillaries in the nose from nose picking or increased body temperature. But the truth that everyone might have forgotten or never known before is that nosebleeds are one of the warning signs that tell us we might be about to suffer from a serious illness. Therefore, getting to know the symptoms of nosebleeds more deeply is important to help us assess symptoms and disease risks promptly.
What is a nosebleed? Understand it thoroughly?
“Nosebleed” or “Epistaxis” is a condition of bleeding from the nose, which can be divided into two parts: anterior nosebleeds, which are usually less severe, and posterior nosebleeds from the back of the nasal cavity, where larger blood vessels are located. This causes more severe symptoms, a larger amount of bleeding, and can also cause bleeding from the mouth. If the patient is unaware of bleeding from the posterior nasal cavity, they may swallow the blood, resulting in vomiting blood or, if it goes into the lungs, coughing up blood. Generally, posterior nosebleeds are caused by more serious dangers than anterior nosebleeds.
What causes nosebleeds?
The causes of nosebleeds can be divided into two main parts: nasal diseases and abnormal body conditions, detailed as follows.
- Nosebleeds due to nasal diseases may be caused by “masses in the nose” or “tumors in the posterior nasal cavity,” including various infections that increase pressure causing nasal congestion or sneezing, leading to broken capillaries and nosebleeds. It may also result from trauma, such as fractures or deviated nasal septum, causing nosebleeds. Additionally, improper use of steroid nasal sprays for allergies can thin the nasal lining and cause bleeding.
- Nosebleeds due to abnormal body conditions include people with underlying diseases such as blood disorders that affect blood clotting, causing easy and prolonged bleeding, often on mucous membranes like the nasal lining or gums. Patients with high blood pressure, liver disease, or those taking blood thinners also have a higher chance of nosebleeds than normal people.
Broken capillaries in the nose causing nosebleeds are the end result of abnormalities in the body that cause capillaries to rupture and bleed. The causes may be nasal masses or blood disorders, which need to be identified because normally blood vessels do not break easily unless triggered by trauma, accidents, or vitamin deficiencies such as vitamin K, which can make blood vessels fragile.
What types of nosebleeds are warning signs that require a doctor’s visit?
To observe whether a nosebleed is dangerous or not, you can look at the flow characteristics and the color of the blood. If you experience any of the following types of nosebleeds, promptly seeing a doctor for diagnosis is the best course of action.
- Frequent nosebleeds recurring in the same nostril
- Large amounts of nosebleed, even if only once, should prompt a doctor visit
- Nosebleeds with blood clots
- Nosebleeds lasting continuously for more than 10 minutes without stopping
- Bright red blood is less severe than pale pink blood
- Nosebleeds accompanied by other symptoms such as nasal congestion, ear fullness, or feeling a lump in the nasal cavity or throat
What serious diseases can nosebleeds warn about?
As explained, “nosebleeds” are the end result of some abnormal cause in the body. Therefore, when nosebleeds occur, especially frequently, they should not be taken lightly. You should promptly see a doctor for consultation and diagnosis to find the cause. Nosebleeds can be warning signs of life-threatening diseases such as nasal cavity tumors, nasopharyngeal cancer, nasopharyngeal tuberculosis, and in children, the most serious is a nasal tumor called “Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma”, which is commonly found in boys aged about 7 – 19 years.
What causes nosebleeds and how is the diagnosis confirmed?
When a patient visits a doctor due to abnormal nosebleeds, the doctor will diagnose by taking a history and examining with a “sinuscope” to find the true cause of the nosebleed. Before the endoscopy, the doctor will provide initial treatment with hemostatic materials and medication in the nose to stop the bleeding. After the bleeding stops, the doctor will perform the endoscopy for diagnosis. Once the cause is identified, a treatment plan will be made according to the lesion found.
How to take care of yourself when you have a nosebleed
Initial first aid for someone experiencing a nosebleed can be done simply as follows:
- Stop all activities immediately. Do not stand or move to prevent danger from dizziness, fainting, or falling if the bleeding is heavy.
- Position yourself lying down with the head not too low, in a “beach chair position” with the head elevated moderately to prevent blood from flowing back into the nose and to avoid choking. Do not tilt your head back as it risks choking on blood.
- If there is heavy bleeding from the front of the nose, pinch the nose, breathe through the mouth, and go to the hospital immediately.
- If the bleeding is light, you can stop it by applying a cold compress, but better is to pinch the nose and hold cold water or ice in the mouth because the palate is where blood vessels are located, so holding ice helps stop bleeding more effectively.
Since nosebleeds are common, most people may not realize they could be warning signs of serious diseases. In reality, nosebleeds can signal dangerous diseases such as nasal cancer, nasal tumors, and nasopharyngeal tuberculosis. Therefore, if you or someone close to you experiences abnormal nosebleeds, such as frequent or heavy bleeding, do not ignore it thinking it is just from fatigue, overwork, or stress. You should promptly consult a doctor to find the exact cause for safety.
“Considering nosebleeds as a normal matter may mean we are closing our eyes
and allowing serious diseases to progress and spread unknowingly”
