The nose contains many fragile, tiny blood vessels. Nosebleeds are fairly common in the U.S., as the American Academy of Otolaryngology reports that approximately 14 percent of people will experience a nosebleed sometime in their lives. While nosebleeds are usually minor health issues, a person should seek medical attention if the nosebleed becomes severe, persists for more than 20 minutes, causes breathing difficulty or results from an injury.
Dryness
One of the most common causes of a nosebleed is dryness in the nose. This situation arises when nasal membranes dry out due to dry climates or dry air from heated indoor environments.
Nose Picking
Repeated nose picking is also one of the most common causes of a nosebleed notes the Mayo Clinic. In tandem with dryness, nose picking increases the chance of a nosebleed.
Foreign Objects in Nose
Placing foreign objects, such as a pencil, in the nose can cause nosebleeds. Children are particularly susceptible to this cause due to their propensity to put things in their nostrils.
Nose Injury
An injury to the nose can cause nosebleeds. In addition, fractures at the base of the skull can cause nosebleeds.
Aspirin
Large doses of aspirin may cause nosebleeds. This occurs because aspirin hampers blood clotting.
