Vitamin C is an important nutrient in our body's diet. It is a water-soluble vitamin, which means the body does not store it and we need a steady daily supply of it to prevent a deficiency. One of the roles of vitamin C is in the healing of blood vessels, so a deficiency of this vitamin can lead to easy bruising and bleeding, including increasing the chances of nosebleeds.
Sources of vitamin C
Fruits and vegetables are the most common natural sources of vitamin C. According to the NIH's Office of Dietary Supplements, these include citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and grapefruits; berries, like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries; vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage; and other fruits like cantaloupe, potatoes and leafy greens. The daily dietary requirements for vitamin C increase by age. Breastfeeding women and smokers need a higher amount of vitamin C in their diets.
Causes of vitamin C deficiency
The most common cause of vitamin C deficiency is not consuming enough fruits and vegetables rich in this nutrient. In the past, this was common during long ocean trips, but in modern times, vitamin C deficiency still occurs among the elderly, smokers, people with conditions that interfere with the absorption of the vitamin, people with kidney disease, and infants fed evaporated or boiled cows' milk. Vitamin C deficiency causes a condition known as scurvy. One of the symptoms of scurvy is nasal bleeding.
Symptoms of vitamin C deficiency
Because vitamin C is important to the healing process of many of the body's tissues, vitamin C deficiency causes problems with bruising and bleeding. According to MedlinePlus, this causes inflamed and bleeding gums, bleeding from the nose, and swollen and painful joints that can fill with blood at the lightest trauma. Other symptoms of vitamin C deficiency or scurvy include decreased ability to fight infections, problems with the healing of wounds, easy bruising of the skin, and anemia.
Treatment
The treatment of scurvy involves taking the recommended daily amounts in the diet. This can be accomplished by having a well-balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables. The Merck Manual also recommends taking high-dose vitamin C, which can relieve the symptoms of deficiency in one to two weeks. Treatment of nosebleeds includes sitting up and leaning forward while pinching your nose firmly with your thumb and index fingers. Nosebleeds treated this way usually last less than twenty minutes. If your nose bleeds for a longer period of time, seek medical attention.
Member Comments