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Nosebleeds, or epistaxis, are common and can occur at any time of year. Most nosebleeds are harmless and resolve on their own within 10–15 minutes. It generally comes from the front part of the nose and is not a cause for worry. However, sometimes nosebleeds can signal serious health issues that require urgent care, when they are coming from the deeper part of the nose and can be linked to high blood pressure, injury, blood-thinning medicines, or bleeding disorders. Dr. Girish Anand M S, Consultant – ENT Surgery, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore cautions that it is important to seek emergency medical care if nosebleeds last longer than 30 minutes or interfere with breathing. Most nosebleeds, however, are minor and can be managed at home.
Dr. Girish Anand M S, Consultant – ENT Surgery, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore explains that nosebleeds happens because of dry air, nose picking, allergies, minor irritation, or sudden changes in blood pressure. They happen when tiny blood vessels inside the nose burst. As per medical literature, the rupture of blood vessels can be spontaneous or caused by trauma, medication use, or other health conditions, and an increase in blood pressure can increase the episode’s length.
Harvard Health adds, “Severe nosebleeds usually come from an artery deeper inside the nose and often occur in people with high blood pressure or on blood-thinning medications”. Another study found that hypertension raises the risk of serious nosebleeds, with hypertensive patients more likely to require treatments like nasal packing.
Some nosebleeds require immediate medical attention:
“Some nosebleeds become serious enough to need an emergency room visit because the bleeding is too heavy, lasts too long, or is caused by a deeper medical problem. When a blood vessel in the back of the nose breaks, the bleeding is harder to stop and may run down the throat, making it dangerous,” Dr Anand tells indianexpress.com.
Dr Manjusha Agarwal from Gleneagles Hospital states, “High BP often goes unnoticed until a crisis occurs. Sudden spikes or drops in blood pressure can trigger nosebleeds, so monitoring and managing BP properly is essential”.
The Emergency Physicians Organization warns, “If a nosebleed happens after a fall or car crash, seek emergency care as it could signify internal bleeding”. Severe nosebleeds may cause anemia or heart issues and sometimes need treatments like nasal packing or embolization to stop the bleeding.
Dr Anand warns that frequent nosebleeds may point to an underlying health problem when they happen often without a clear reason like dry air or minor irritation. “If someone gets nosebleeds several times a week or month, it may indicate issues such as high blood pressure, anemia, bleeding disorders, or problems with blood clotting.”
Keep your nose protected by staying hydrated, avoiding nose picking, and using a humidifier in dry environments. Those with high blood pressure or blood-clotting disorders should be extra cautious. “Control your blood pressure with regular checkups, a balanced diet, hydration, and stress management to prevent sudden severe nosebleeds,” Dr Agarwal concludes.
