Most people experience a nosebleed, also called epistaxis, at one time or another. Some individuals have nosebleeds as often as once a week or more often. Nosebleeds, which can occur at any age, can be caused by a number of factors. Most can be treated with first aid at home; some require medical attention or hospitalization. Understanding the cause of a nosebleed can help prevent future episodes.
Trauma
Trauma to the nose is responsible for many nosebleeds. This can involve a child sticking a bean, straw or other object up her nose or an adult picking his nose repeatedly. The nose may be broken in an accident or a fight. Surgery can also cause nosebleed. Rarely, nosebleed is the result of an injury elsewhere in the skull.
Environmental Conditions
Environmental conditions naturally affect the delicate nasal lining. This can lead to a bleed in susceptible individuals. A dry, arid climate can induce a nosebleed as can cold, dry weather. Dry, heated indoor air can precipitate a nosebleed.
Respiratory Illnesses
Sinus inflammation and allergy can cause nose bleeds. An upper respiratory infection, such as a cold, may also be responsible. This often occurs when excessive nasal mucus is created, which eventually crusts on the lining of the nasal passages. The crust is dislodged during a cough, sneeze or nose-blowing, and a part of the lining of the nose is injured. This leads to bleeding.
Drug and Chemical Causes
Decongestant nasal sprays can cause nosebleeds, as can repeated exposure of illicit drugs such as cocaine. Prescription blood-thinners are notorious culprits, as are over-the-counter aspirin. Other drugs cause nosebleed occasionally. Cleveland Clinic explains that chemicals, particularly those used in industrial settings, are responsible for some cases.
Medical Causes
According to Mayo Clinic, a deviated septum may be responsible for repeated nosebleeds. Bleeding disorders, diagnosed or undiagnosed, are always a consideration when no other cause can be found. One common bleeding disorder is hemophilia. Occasionally, leukemia or a rare inherited condition called hemorrhagic telangiectasia is discovered as the cause of epistaxis. When a nosebleed is found to be due to hypertension, it often means the blood pressure is dangerously high. Arteriosclerosis is a common cause of epistaxis in the elderly. Rarely, a tumor in the nose or elsewhere in the skull is found to be responsible.
