Does a High Sodium Intake Cause Bloody Noses?

If you are getting bloody noses after eating a meal high in sodium, you might want to think about changing your diet. While bloody noses are often caused by dry air, allergies, colds and vigorous nose blowing; they are also caused by hypertension. Also called high blood pressure, hypertension can be caused by eating foods with too much salt in them, such as pretzels, processed lunch meats, canned soups, pickled foods and heavily seasoned foods.

Salt contains sodium, a naturally occurring mineral that causes the body to retain fluid. This buildup of fluid causes pressure in the arteries, leading to high blood pressure. A high-sodium diet can cause high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. When you eat salty food, the increased blood pressure can cause arteries and blood vessels to burst, possibly leading to nosebleeds -- where the bleeding comes from deep inside the nose. Posterior nosebleeds can be more difficult to stop and often require treatment from a doctor, according to the Cleveland Clinic website.