Occasional nose bleeds are not uncommon and usually don't require medical treatment unless accompanied by a trauma. The nose bleeds when tiny blood vessels lying close to the surface are damaged or ruptured. Frequent nose bleeds, however, may signal a chronic or underlying condition.
Sinusitis
Both acute and chronic sinusitis may cause the nose to bleed frequently. Sinusitis causes swelling and inflammation which can lead to drying of the nasal passages. Drying may cause the skin to crack and damage blood vessels. Symptoms of sinusitis may include yellow or green mucus, nasal congestion, aching in the upper jaw and teeth, a reduced sense of smell, fatigue, nausea, ear pain and bad breath. Physicians may treat sinusitis with saline nasal spray to rinse passages, nasal corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, nasal decongestants and over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Nasal Polyps
Nasal polyps are small noncancerous growths on the lining of the nasal passages and sinuses. Most nasal polyps are small and have no symptoms. Larger nasal polyps can block nasal passages and cause breathing difficulties, interfere with sense of smell and cause frequent sinus infections and nose bleeds. Symptoms of nasal polyps include a runny nose, snoring, facial pain or headache and itching around the eyes. In order to diagnose nasal polyps, physicians may place a narrow tube with a camera on the end into the nasal passages to view the nasal cavities. Physicians may also do a specialized X-ray of the sinuses known as computed tomography, or CT. Treatment of nasal polyps includes corticosteroids to reduce inflammation as well as surgical interventions.
Blood Thinners
Physicians prescribe blood thinners such as heparin or warfarin to help keep blood clots from forming. Blood thinners increase the risk of bleeding and prevent platelets from clotting causing injuries to bleed longer. Patients taking blood thinners who experience frequent nose bleeds should notify their doctors immediately. Nose bleeds may be an indication of too much medication.
Cocaine Abuse
Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug which people commonly abuse by snorting. When people snort cocaine, it is absorbed into the nasal tissues which, over time, can cause passages to become injured and cracked leading to frequent nose bleeds. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, abusing cocaine long-term may cause a loss of sense of smell and cause the cartilage in the nose to erode.
Leukemia
Leukemia is cancer of the blood-forming tissues of the body such as bone marrow. Bone marrow creates red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Platelets are necessary for blood clotting. Leukemia often starts in the white blood cells but over time will begin to affect red blood cells and platelet formation causing people to bleed or bruise easily. Other symptoms of leukemia include fevers and chills, persistent fatigue, weakness, swollen lymph nodes and tiny red spots as well as bone pain and tenderness. Physicians choose to treat leukemia based on the type of leukemia and how far it has progressed. Treatment includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplants and possible surgical intervention.
