Nosebleeds, or epistaxis, is a symptom of many diseases, conditions and disorders ranging from mild to serious and life-threatening. A bloody nose can occur at any age and in conjunction with many other symptoms. Nosebleeds may occur frequently or intermittently. Treatment depends on the underlying cause, with the initial action of pinching the nose shut to help stop the bleeding.
Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the measurement of the force of the blood in the arteries as the blood flows through the body. Blood pressure readings are useful in evaluating the effectiveness of the heart's pumping ability and the condition of the circulatory system. Blood pressure measurements include two numbers: systolic pressure is the top number and indicates the pressure exerted when the heart contracts; diastolic pressure, the bottom number, is the arterial pressure when the heart is at rest, according to MedlinePlus. Symptoms that may occur with hypertension include nosebleed, headache, irregular heartbeat and fatigue. Treatment goal is to reduce the blood pressure for symptom control. Medications, healthy lifestyle and stress reduction are measures to control hypertension.
Hemophilia
Hemophilia is an inherited disease without adequate blood-clotting factors known as factor VIII and factor IX. About 17,000 people in the United States have hemophilia, and it affects more men than women, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Symptoms include nosebleeds, blood in the urine, internal bleeding and large bruises. With no cure available, treatment options include taking precautions to prevent injury, avoiding drugs such as aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and administering factor VIII or IX regularly.
Leukemia
Leukemia is a group of cancers in which there is a large number of abnormal white blood cells. As leukemia progresses, red blood cells and platelets are affected. About 25 percent of all childhood cancers are leukemias, as reported by KidsHealth.org. The two major classifications of leukemias are acute and chronic. Acute leukemias, which account for about 98 percent of all leukemias in children, include acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL, and acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML. About 60 percent of leukemia in children is ALL, notes KidsHealth. A common symptom of all leukemia types is frequent nosebleeds.
Broken Nose
One of the first symptoms of a broken nose is a nosebleed. Other symptoms may include pain, swelling, difficulty breathing through the nose and a crooked nose. Complications associated with a broken nose include a deviated septum, a fracture of the cartilage and a collection of blood that blocks either or both nostrils. The nose suffers about 40 percent of all facial fractures, notes OhioHealth online.
