A majority of people will experience a bloody nose, or epistaxis, at some point in their lives. Nasal bleeding has affected 60 percent of the population. Usually, nosebleeds are mild and resolve quickly, according to the journal American Family Physician. A bloody nose is usually an alarming but harmless annoyance. Occasionally, a bloody nose may have a serious cause and be life-threatening. High blood pressure may make an existing bloody nose worse but is rarely the primary cause of a nosebleed.
Common Causes
The nose has an abundant supply of small blood vessels close to the surface, making it prone to bleeding. The most common causes of a bloody nose are local trauma and a dry nose. Local trauma is most often caused by blunt injury to the nose, such as being punched or getting hurt playing sports, from frequently blowing the nose or from picking the nose, called epistaxis digitorum. A dry nose is caused by low humidity in the air. Using a humidifier, saline nasal spray and petroleum jelly in the nostrils may relieve a dry nose, according to Penn State.
Local Causes
Commonly, a bloody nose has a cause that is localized, meaning the nose is directly involved. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinus cavities caused by allergies or infection that can cause a bloody nose. Foreign objects in the nose can cause bleeding. They are usually found in children, psychiatric patients and the mentally disabled, according to the Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. Beans, seeds, nuts, insects and button batteries, which can cause serious chemical burns, are commonly found objects. Signs of a foreign object in the nose include thick, foul-smelling and possibly bloody mucus draining from the nose. Other local causes include nasal polyps or tumors, a deviated septum and malformation of the nasal blood vessels.
Systemic Causes
A bloody nose from any cause happens more easily in patients with a bleeding disorder. Easy bleeding can result from liver disease, a low platelet count, hemophilia and from the use of medications that thin the blood, such as aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and coumadin. Bleeding disorders cause a bloody nose that is usually more severe and more difficult to treat. Other systemic causes include vitamin K deficiency, leukemia and kidney disease, according to Penn State.
