The nose is bleeding heavily. Nosebleeds in an adult: reasons, how to stop the bleeding

From this article you will learn: all the possible causes of nosebleeds in adults and children.

Article publication date: 04/08/2017

Article updated date: 07/29/2019

There are many causes of nosebleeds. It is important to determine the cause of bleeding in an individual to prevent recurrent episodes.

Comparative chart of the prevalence of causes of nosebleeds (percentage)

In children, blood flows from the nose due to polyps or adenoids, age-related immaturity of blood vessels, the presence of a foreign body in the nasal passage, anemia, prolonged use of a vasoconstrictor spray, etc.

If your nose bleeds repeatedly, this cannot be ignored. This may be a sign of a serious disease of the blood, internal organs, or a manifestation of oncology. First, you need to try to understand for yourself why the nose may bleed, whether there is a periodicity, notice whether the bleeding is tied to a certain time of day or not, what intensity it is, how often it occurs, whether there are clots or scarlet liquid blood flows.

Then be sure to contact an otolaryngologist. All these observations will help him quickly understand why your nose is bleeding. Of course, additional examination will be required. The doctor will select a list of diagnostic methods in accordance with the suspected cause. It is possible that after receiving the research results, you will need consultation or treatment from another specialist - a cardiologist, endocrinologist, surgeon, oncologist. If there is a facial injury with damage to the nasal passages, the cause of the bleeding is obvious; in this case, you should immediately contact a traumatologist.

Only by eliminating the provoking factor will you get rid of bleeding.

Causes in adults

Two groups of causes of bleeding:

local (local) – affects only the nose;
systemic (general) - arise due to internal effects of the body, for example, in various diseases.

Local provoking factors

Nose injuries. They often occur during a fight due to blows to the face or during serious accidents.
Allergy. The walls of blood vessels rupture due to an allergic reaction and blood flow.
Dry hot room air. Often the cause of night bleeding is drying out of the mucous membrane due to inhalation of too dry air currents during hot radiators in winter.
Polyp in the nose or deformation of the nasal septum. This makes nasal breathing difficult, causing the load to be improperly distributed between the nostrils. The polyp compresses the blood vessels, due to which red liquid often flows from the nose, especially in the morning.
Atrophy of the mucous membrane. Develops in various inflammatory diseases, for example, chronic rhinitis. It may be a consequence of a hereditary disease or occupational hazard - dusty premises, dry air, working in the cold. Insufficient mucus secretion, drying out and thinning of the mucous membrane causes fragility of blood vessels, and ultimately nosebleeds.
Inflammation of the nasal mucosa (rhinitis) may be accompanied by minor nosebleeds. Blood clots are visible along with the mucus that appears during a runny nose.
Long-term use of hormonal or vasoconstrictor spray (drops).
Sunstroke is one of the main factors in the occurrence of nosebleeds in hot summers. Often, general overheating of the body, which occurs due to prolonged exposure to the scorching rays of the sun, is accompanied by nosebleeds. The vessels of the mucous membrane become fragile and burst.
Snorting cocaine. It has long been noted that drug addicts who use cocaine through the nose have thinning mucous membranes, loss of smell, and nosebleeds.

General pathologies of the body

Hypertension is the most common cause of nosebleeds in adults, especially older people. This “natural bloodletting” reduces the risk of cerebral stroke. Usually after it the person’s condition does not worsen, but improves. Develops against the background of tinnitus, cephalgia (headache) and other symptoms of crisis. The blood vessels burst, unable to withstand the pressure, causing blood from the nose to flow in a thin stream without clots.
Acute infections affecting the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. These are sinusitis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, rhinitis, ARVI and others. Inflamed vessels are more fragile and more likely to burst, causing blood to flow through the nose. Similar changes in the vascular walls occur with allergic rhinitis.
Blood diseases or other pathologies accompanied by blood clotting disorders. What causes nosebleeds in this case? For example, in hemophilia, a deficiency of blood plasma coagulation factors leads not only to nosebleeds and other heavy external bleeding, but also to serious internal bleeding. Other pathologies include hemorrhagic diathesis, vasculitis, coagulopathies, hypo- and vitamin deficiency with vitamin deficiency. K, S.
Hormonal changes or disruptions during puberty, menopause or pregnancy.
Taking blood thinning medications. Heparin, warfarin, and aspirin can cause nosebleeds.
Pheochromocytoma is a hormone-dependent tumor of the adrenal gland of a malignant or benign nature. Its main symptom is arterial hypertension with frequent crises, during which nosebleeds are possible. The stable form of the disease is characterized by a persistent increase in blood pressure and, accordingly, frequent episodes of nosebleeds.
Malignant neoplasm in the nasal cavity. Various cancerous tumors lead to ulceration of the mucous membrane, impaired nasal breathing, and bleeding.
Barometric pressure difference. This is what divers, climbers or pilots encounter.

Why does the nose bleed - for other reasons:

Inhalation of chemical irritants.
Air travel.
Intense sneezing.

Causes in children

Why do babies have nosebleeds? There are many factors, just like in adults. Very common:

Foreign body in the nasal passage.
Fall with damage to the nose.
Mechanical injury with a slimy toy or finger.

The cause of nosebleeds in children at night may be increased pressure or dry air in the room. If this is an isolated case, the bleeding is easy to stop, and there are no other symptoms, then there is no cause for concern. If bleeding occurs repeatedly, does not stop well, the child complains of weakness, various pains, then you should definitely contact a pediatrician and be examined. In such cases, nosebleeds may be due to a serious illness, such as anemia, leukemia, hemophilia, or another disease associated with poor blood clotting.

When is nosebleed one-time and when is it periodic?

Single nosebleed

Injury to the mucous membrane by a foreign object, which is especially typical for young children.
Severe fatigue or stress.
Fever due to acute respiratory infection or other infection.
Overheating of the body during a visit to a bathhouse, sauna, or prolonged exposure to the sun.

If a child develops nosebleeds after using drops with a vasoconstrictor effect, you should stop using them. The mucous membrane is so dry that the nasal capillaries burst.

Single bleeding without massive blood loss is usually not dangerous. But if the episodes are repeated many times, you should be wary and be sure to consult a specialist.

Signal bleeding deserves special attention. It begins suddenly and ends quickly, but the blood loss is significant, and the color of the blood may be unusual - dark, coagulated with flakes and large clots, or red foamy. This may indicate an aneurysm, rupture of a large vessel, disintegration of a malignant neoplasm, pulmonary, gastric bleeding, etc.

Causes of periodic nosebleeds

If blood flows systematically, accompanied by other symptoms - bleeding gums, bruising, fever, joint pain, you should be wary and be sure to first consult with an ENT doctor or therapist. You may have a systemic or malignant disease, such as anemia, pheochromocytoma, thrombocytopenic purpura, leukemia, etc.

Hypertensive patients prone to nosebleeds usually themselves note that blood flows from the nose during a hypertensive crisis. After the pressure normalizes, it stops.

If you cannot stop the child’s bleeding on your own, and there are bruises in different parts of the body, then you should immediately call an ambulance, and then undergo an examination to rule out hemophilia.

If cases of nosebleeds recur, last longer than 20 minutes, or if there are accompanying symptoms, you should definitely visit a specialist to find out and eliminate the cause of the pathological condition.

If your nose bleeds frequently, there can be a variety of reasons. This is a fairly common phenomenon, which many perceive as an insignificant episode not worthy of serious attention. As soon as the bleeding stops, the person forgets about it. Meanwhile, this is a signal of trouble - something is happening wrong in the body.

The causes of nosebleeds can be very different. They depend on the age, state of health of a person and his external environment.

Let's try to summarize all the possible causes of nosebleeds and break them into categories. Among them:

Traumatic impact. It could just be a bruise with ruptured blood vessels or a fracture. Usually such effects end in bleeding.
The cause of nosebleeds in adults may be associated with pathologies of the cardiovascular system, accompanied by surges in blood pressure and spasms. Most often, heavy bleeding occurs during a hypertensive crisis.
Response to extreme environmental conditions. Typically, nosebleeds occur due to sunstroke or heatstroke.
Manifestation of age-related characteristics of the development of the body. Most often, this reason manifests itself in children at the onset of puberty, as well as in women during the period of hormonal changes during menopause.
Severe, and most importantly, prolonged stress depletes the body in the literal and figurative sense, causing the blood vessels to become thin and the blood pressure to become unstable.
Long-term deficiency of vitamins and microelements can lead to nosebleeds due to changes in the normal state of the walls of blood vessels.
Disorders of the blood itself. Most often, in this case, nosebleeds are caused by the inability of the blood to clot. Such a person always bleeds from the nose at the slightest injury of an internal or external nature.

This little preview gives you an idea of what causes a nosebleed. Let's look at the most common and main ones.

Vitamins and calcium

In this case, we are talking about a person who does not have a hereditary predisposition or persistent pathologies of the nose and sinuses.

Why does the nose bleed in an adult and completely healthy person who has not been exposed to any traumatic influences? Typically, in such cases, the causes of sudden nosebleeds lie in the following:

Blood comes from the nose in an adult due to a deficiency of ascorbic acid, vitamins B12 and D and calcium.
Vitamin C deficiency reduces capillary resistance, which can lead to severe bleeding of a sudden nature at the most inopportune moment and for no apparent reason. Similar hemorrhages occur throughout the body, but in the nose they can last quite a long time.
Vitamin D is a regulator of calcium levels in the blood. It is with the help of this vitamin that calcium is absorbed in the intestines, mobilized from the skeleton and transferred to the blood and cells, and calcium is reabsorbed in the renal tubules. In other words, vitamin D is a storehouse of calcium in our body, which strengthens blood vessels, including those in the nose.
Lack of vitamin B12 leads to thrombocytopenia. This is a condition in which the number of platelets decreases below the acceptable level. This is the reason for increased bleeding.

A deficiency of all these vitamins is an independent cause of nosebleeds in adults and children.

However, they are all interrelated with the amount, concentration and functional activity of calcium. So, if everything seems to be in order, but your nose periodically lets you down, then answering the question of why your nose bleeds, the reasons should be sought, first of all, in a balanced and nutritious diet.

Blood clotting and its problems

Regardless of age and health status, the causes of nosebleeds in each person can be due to various factors. The most important thing in this case is to quickly stop the spontaneous release of blood from the vessels.

If the coagulation processes proceed normally, then the bleeding does not last long, since the blood itself forms a blood clot, which closes the hole. However, if the nose bleeds and there is no way to stop it, then this is already a manifestation of pathology. If we exclude a deficiency of vitamins and calcium, then why does blood flow from the nose without stopping?

This is a sign of other blood clotting problems.

Everyone knows such a genetic disease as hemophilia. It appears only in men of any age and condition. The problem is that the genetic nature of the lack of blood clotting ability does not allow such a disease to be cured. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor, who should be informed about the nature of your illness.

The causes of nosebleeds also lie in the plane of wrong human actions. It can, voluntarily or involuntarily, reduce blood clotting. This is not so much about a deficiency of vitamins and calcium, but about taking certain medications that, as a side effect, help reduce this indicator.

For some illnesses, people take medications or herbal infusions to reduce the likelihood of blood clots. Especially many of these substances are used to combat atherosclerosis, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, and to prevent strokes and heart attacks.

Being carried away by these medications, a person may not notice how he exceeds the permissible dose, and then wonders with bewilderment what the causes of such bleeding are. In this case, only one thing can be advised - caution and moderation. Find out from your doctors all the information you need, read the instructions, and most importantly, follow them.

Diseases and bleeding

If a person suffers from colds and viral diseases, then, as a rule, he has a runny nose, as well as nosebleeds, the causes of which are predominantly traumatic in nature. Repeatedly repeated sneezing and blowing your nose, and a strained cough can destroy the capillaries located in the nose, which leads to bleeding, the abundance of which depends on the ability of the blood to clot.

Bleeding from the nose also occurs with prolonged allergic rhinitis. Allergy in its effect on the body’s immune system is similar to the effect of viruses, which is confirmed by a number of signs and processes.

In addition, when there are constantly many actively reproducing bacteria and viruses in the nose, the vessels can become thinner and then burst. It is in this case that blood may come from one nostril. It’s just that it was this nostril that, quite by chance, had the most infectious load.

Why do people who have been in environmentally and climatically unfavorable conditions bleed from the nose for a long time? Low temperatures usually first increase nasal congestion, and then, if a person leads an active lifestyle in the cold, this phenomenon goes away and breathing becomes easy and free. In people with vascular disease, such sudden changes in the nose can cause bleeding due to ruptured capillaries.

If you are forced to stay in a heavily polluted, and especially dusty, environment for a long time, then one or more blood vessels may rupture due to an overly aggressive environment or the formation of a specific crust on the nasal mucosa.

Most often, a dusty bleeding vessel does not cause severe bleeding. However, if bleeding occurs due to thinning of the walls of blood vessels under the influence of an aggressive environment, then it can become severe and even profuse.

Other causes of bleeding

These include:

Causes
Comments
Damage of a mechanical property This category can include a wide range of impacts from accidental damage with a nail when you want to scratch your nose to a fracture of bone or cartilage tissue, as well as penetration of a foreign object into the nasal cavity. Hypertension, hypertensive crisis, hypertension, vascular spasms All this can cause frequent nosebleeds, which are abundant and sudden. Physical and mental fatigue leads to weakening of the body, increased blood pressure, insomnia. The consequence of all this can be vascular spasm, pressure surges and nosebleeds. Sunstroke and heatstroke are different options for overheating the body. If you find yourself in such a situation, then you will be sick for at least 3 days. Usually the person’s condition in this case is very serious. He has a severe headache, his temperature increases or, conversely, decreases, intoxication appears with nausea and vomiting, and his blood pressure increases.

Nosebleeds are just a small episode of the manifestation of this disease. It does not happen to everyone who is overheated, but if it does happen, it is usually severe.

Neoplasms both in the nose and in other organs. The most common cause of bleeding is nasal polyps. This is an overgrowth of the mucous membrane of an organ that clogs the respiratory passages. Polyps not only interfere with breathing, but also put physical pressure on the blood vessels, which can cause them to rupture. In this case, bleeding occurs most often in the morning.

There is only one way to avoid nosebleeds of this origin - surgery. A tumor of the adrenal glands contributes to the appearance of stress and, as a result, an increase in blood pressure, which is the cause of bleeding, which, in turn, is considered one of the symptoms of the tumor.

Experts have noticed a connection between the occurrence of nosebleeds and cocaine use. This is especially true for young people. Perhaps the condition is due to the fact that cocaine is very toxic to the mucous membrane. As a result, she becomes very vulnerable and responds to any impact with bleeding.

Some anti-runny nose medications can act in a similar way. They, of course, do not cause a narcotic reaction or addiction, but their effect on the mucous membrane is not always favorable.

Algorithm for stopping bleeding

If your nose starts bleeding, then you need to take some actions in the following sequence:

Sit up straight, tilt your head forward, trying to press your chin closer to your chest.
Place a cloth moistened with cold water on the bridge of your nose. You can use snow or ice by wrapping it in cloth. If this is not possible, just apply some cold object. At low temperatures, the blood vessels narrow, which reduces the intensity of bleeding.
Place any vasoconstrictor drops into your nose, which are usually used to relieve congestion in the respiratory system. If you don’t have something like this on hand, you can drip fresh lemon juice.
Using your thumb and forefinger, press the wings of your nose against the nasal septum. This will completely block breathing through your nose, so you will have to use your mouth for a while. If the bleeding is not very severe, it will stop after 5-10 minutes.
There are points on the hands and feet that correspond to the nose area. On the sole, this area is located on the side of the big toe, on its outer side in the middle of the nail. The “nasal” zone on the thumb is similar. It is best to rub an irritating ointment like Vietnamese balm into these areas.
If all else fails, you need to insert cotton swabs soaked in hydrogen peroxide or just water into the nostrils. You need to keep them for about 30 minutes. If the bleeding does not stop, they need to be changed as they become saturated with blood. If during this time the tampons have dried to the nasal mucosa, then moisten them with water and carefully remove them.

Often people throw their head back and lie down so that it is located as low as possible. This is due to the idea that if blood does not flow out of the nostrils, then the bleeding will end faster. This is a misconception. This will not improve the condition, but the blood will go into the pharynx, larynx, etc. As a result, you will choke on your blood, and swallowing it may cause vomiting.

Thus, nosebleeds are a symptom and a problem that needs to be addressed urgently. Pay close attention to this phenomenon, since regular bleeding may indicate the existence of a serious illness.

Blood from the nose in an adult is not uncommon. The reasons for this are varied, so attention to the disease should be comprehensive. To do this, a person must study all possible circumstances that may affect nosebleeds. Additionally, information about treatment and prevention will help you solve the problem professionally and prevent its recurrence. An important point is that in cases where nosebleeds appear frequently in an adult, a diagnostic examination by a specialist is required, as this will reveal the real causes of the disease.

Nosebleeds: what is it?

A disease called epistaxis is the medical name for nosebleeds. In 60% of cases, the disease occurs unexpectedly for the patient, which causes fear and confusion. Knowing the main causes of the problem, stages of treatment and methods of prevention, you can not only stop the development, but also prevent the possibility of relapses. It is important for a person who is faced with the appearance of nosebleeds not to worry, but to act according to existing rules in order to quickly stop it.

Symptoms and signs

Blood loss occurring from the nose has certain symptoms and signs that will allow a person to recognize the disease in advance.

The main ones are divided into 3 large groups:

Main signs of bleeding;
Acute blood loss;
Symptoms of the underlying disease, leading to the appearance of blood from the nose.

An important feature of the course of the disease, which experts note: in some patients, nosebleeds begin completely unexpectedly, while others experience the following symptoms:

Dizziness;
Noise clearly audible in the ears;
Headaches (sometimes migraines);
Itching. Sometimes very intense in the nose (or tickling).

The main visual sign is the discharge of blood or clots with it from the nasal cavity. If it gets into the nasopharynx cavity, then a pharyngoscopy procedure will help to recognize the problem. In 75% of cases, a person observes the appearance of drops (less often streams of blood) coming out of the nose.

Separation of symptoms and signs according to the degree of blood loss

With mild blood loss, symptoms are not felt in 95% of cases. In this case, problems are noted afterwards - in the form of dizziness from the sight of blood, slight ringing in the ears or weakness. Pale skin and rapid heartbeat are recorded in a quarter of patients, but this is due to the general sensitivity of the psyche.

Moderate blood loss is accompanied by severe symptoms, these include:

Dizziness;
Drop in blood pressure;
The appearance of tachycardia;
Acrocyanosis;
Shortness of breath.

In cases where severe blood loss is recorded, the following manifestations of the disease and body reactions are noted:

Lethargy;
Loss of consciousness (in rare cases);
Weak (called thready) pulse;
Severe tachycardia;
A sharp decrease in blood pressure.

In cases of moderate to severe nosebleeds, call a doctor immediately. Trying to stop it on your own can make the situation worse.

What types of bleeding are there?

The disease varies in severity and types. In general, the total volume of blood that a person loses varies from 1-2 ml to 0.5 liters - depending on the severity of the manifestation and timely first aid.

The following types of epistaxis are distinguished:

Minor(1-5 ml, but not more than 10 ml) – such bleeding does not pose a danger to human health, there will be no negative consequences or complications;
Moderate(from 10 to 199 ml) – manifestation – weakness, slight feeling of dizziness, light or dark spots - “floaters” before the eyes. Sometimes there is a pallor of the natural shade of the skin and mucous membranes;
Mass(approaching 300) - blood may not flow out of the nose immediately, but gradually. This type is accompanied by pronounced symptoms: weakness, distinct tinnitus, dizziness, headache, severe thirst and shortness of breath;
Profuse(blood loss exceeds 450 and approaches 500 ml). The manifestations are vivid - there is loss of consciousness, weakness, dizziness of varying degrees, headaches that may resemble a migraine, a sharp or gradual, but constant decrease in blood pressure.

Important! A blood loss of 200 ml or more can lead to hemorrhagic shock, expressed in a sharp (sometimes leading to fainting) drop in blood pressure. There is also lethargy and insufficient blood circulation in the internal organs.

Also, the division is done a little differently - local and general bleeding from the nasal cavity are isolated. Local is the process of bleeding caused by local damage to the nose. General – bleeding that began for other reasons.

There are other forms and types of the disease.

According to the localization of the process, the following varieties are distinguished:

Anterior - arises and begins in the anterior sections of the nasal septum. The frequency of manifestations is 90% of all cases. The reason is vascular damage. It’s easy to stop even at home;
Posterior nosebleeds - begins from the posterior parts of the nose and develops there, the incidence of cases is 48%. This type often requires qualified medical assistance and is difficult to stop on your own. Feature – blood can get into the throat;
Unilateral - blood is released from one nostril. The intensity of the process varies, depending on the reasons;
Bilateral - bleeding is recorded immediately in each of the nostrils.

The division is also made according to the frequency of occurrence.

Fixed:

Sporadic – occurs rarely, most often 1-2 times over a long period of time;
Repetitive (relapses). Marked by regularity, short periods between the occurrence of bleeding.

If blood appears frequently, an immediate visit to a medical facility is necessary for diagnosis and a comprehensive examination.

There is a classification that takes into account the mechanism of the problem.

It happens:

spontaneous;
traumatic;
operating room;
postoperative (during surgical interventions, for example, during plastic changes in the shape of the nose or its septum).

The disease also appears due to damage to blood vessels.

In this case, the following are distinguished:

arterial;
venous;
capillary bleeding.

All forms and types of the disease are taken into account by the doctor during the examination. This is necessary to ensure the highest quality and fastest therapy.

Causes

They can be local or general.

The first include:

injuries (nose, face in general, head);
surgical interventions and specialized procedures;
infectious diseases;
allergic reactions;
formed polyps in the nose;
features of the indoor microclimate (for example, low humidity, high temperature).

Blood may also appear as a result of inhalation of caustic substances or steam.

Common ones include:

high blood pressure;
violation of blood clotting processes;
various blood diseases;
vascular weakness;
systemic infections.

In order to identify the true causes of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Clinical picture

The clinical picture is one of the main ones when drawing up a treatment program. Therapy and necessary procedures are prescribed based on visual observation of what is happening and the patient’s condition. Thus, anterior nosebleeds are expressed in the release of a certain volume of blood from one (damaged) or from each nostril (most often a consequence of injuries or concomitant ailments). Intensity – drop by drop (1-5) or stream of intensity. Volumes depend on the reasons.

In turn, the picture of the posterior flow of blood from the nose looks different. Starting in the back of the nose, the blood can travel into the throat. The intensity is varied and depends on many factors. It is important to remember that there may be no symptoms or visible causes; everything will be clear only after specialized diagnostics in a medical office.

In this case, the following additionally appear:

nausea and vomiting (caused by blood getting into the throat);
hemoptysis;
Coloration of digestive enzymes (stool turns black).

In turn, the clinical picture depends on the volume of leaked blood. If the loss is up to 10 ml, then the person tolerates it normally - the general condition and well-being can remain stable. Exceptions are hysteria and fainting, which occur in people with a sensitive psyche.

If the process of blood loss continues for a long time or the volume exceeds 10 ml, then the following are added to the clinical picture:

General weakness;
The appearance of ringing and noise in the ears (decreased pressure);
Feeling thirsty;
"Flies";
The skin turns pale.

Additionally, slight shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat are noted.

Heavy bleeding (loss of more than 20% of the total volume) causes hemorrhagic shock, manifested by characteristic signs that are taken into account when making a diagnosis and prescribing therapy.

Danger of nosebleeds

The main danger of the disease is the development of complications and negative consequences for the body associated with the simultaneous loss of a large volume of blood. Therefore, it is important to determine the type and type of illness as soon as possible. With minor bleeding, there will be no health consequences in 95% of cases.

Massive (abundant) leakage of blood leads to disruption of some functions of systems and their parts - individual internal organs. It must be remembered that the appearance of blood from the nose, especially for no apparent reason, is a signal that an examination is necessary; there are disorders that can only be recognized by a specialist.

Diagnostic methods

Seeing a doctor is the first step towards determining the causes of the disease.

Diagnostics includes several methods:

Analysis of patient complaints;
Visual observation (assessing the problem based on the clinical picture);
General examination;
Survey using computer technology.

Analysis of the disease includes identifying the intensity, presence of vomiting and hemoptysis. At this stage of diagnosis, the doctor will know the approximate time of onset and duration of bleeding. The patient must tell what reasons led to the illness - whether there were injuries. Visual observation allows you to compare a person’s story and the clinical picture of the disease. Diagnostic measures also take into account the presence of diseases of various systems and organs, as they can cause bleeding.

A general examination allows you to pay attention to small signs that will tell the doctor about the person’s condition. At this stage, the types and forms of the disease are identified, allowing therapy to be adjusted. Rhinoscopy is performed - examination of the nasal cavity and pharyngoscopy - examination of the oropharynx. They can be visual and using tools or devices.

Additionally, a general (to assess health) blood test is prescribed. Its main task is to determine the number of constituent elements of blood - red blood cells, as well as the level of hemoglobin and platelets. The level of trace elements in the blood, primarily iron, is also assessed. If necessary, a coagulogram procedure is performed - a study of blood clotting.

Traditional treatment

Based on the diagnostic results, treatment is prescribed.

It should solve several problems:

Stop the negative process;
Avoid repetitions;
Replenish the body's blood loss.

If there is not much blood flowing out of the nose, then it is necessary to apply mechanical pressure to the nose - squeeze it with your fingers. Then apply a clean cloth soaked in cold water. You can use ice for this purpose. Also, a cotton or cloth swab is placed in the nasal passages (nostrils) or one of them, which should be moistened in any vasoconstrictor ( hydrogen peroxide 3%). You can't throw your head back! This may cause blood to flow into the throat.

Blood can be stopped:

Using the cauterization method using special means;
Using extreme conditions - ice or strong heat (it is better to entrust it to a specialist);
Nasal tamponade (use of natural biological tissues).

Drugs that improve the processes responsible for normal blood clotting are also used. In case of heavy blood loss, surgical intervention is performed, for example, ligation of the arteries or embolization of blood vessels.

Additionally, medications are prescribed to reduce blood pressure (according to indications), drips and fluid replenishment. In severe cases, treatment includes transfusion of donor blood or blood components such as plasma. All medications used in treatment must be prescribed by a doctor.

Treatment with traditional medicine

Treatment with traditional medicine recipes involves the use of compresses and lotions made from herbs:

Nettle (dioecious);
Yarrow;
Shepherd's bags.

They promote blood clotting, prevent inflammation and increase hemoglobin levels.

Prevention

Prevention of the disease is related to the main causes of its occurrence. It is necessary to humidify the air in the room and use saline solutions to rinse the nose. Avoid injury to the face, head and nose, promptly get rid of dust and other irritants.

Treatment of allergies and timely prevention (prevention of the possibility of occurrence) of colds and infectious diseases help prevent the occurrence of nosebleeds. Proper rest and monitoring blood pressure levels can also prevent negative manifestations.

Blood from the nose in an adult is not a rare phenomenon, but it requires attention. Timely diagnosis and proper treatment will help you forget about this problem forever.

Mild nosebleeds can begin spontaneously or after a minor injury to the nose. As a rule, they do not pose any danger.

In the area of the nasal septum there are many fragile vessels. To avoid damaging them, the spout of the bottle should be directed towards the wing of the nose. For example, when introducing medicine into the left nostril, hold the bottle with your right hand and point it to the left - away from the septum.

Increased fragility of small vessels

In some people, frequent nosebleeds are caused by increased fragility of the small vessels in the front of the nasal septum.

Fragility of blood vessels may be congenital or may occur in old age.

To solve this problem you need to consult a doctor. He may suggest cauterizing the mucous membrane with silver nitrate or a special surgical instrument. This procedure is called cauterization Epistaxis: an update on current management..

Other causes of frequent nosebleeds

More rare causes of frequent nosebleeds may include:

Congenital bleeding disorders.
Chronic liver diseases.
Medicines that reduce blood clotting.
Deviation or perforation of the nasal septum.
Tumors in the nasal cavity.
Oncological diseases of the blood.

In all these situations, treatment tactics depend on the disease.

If you experience any other symptoms along with frequent bleeding, you should consult a doctor.

Nosebleeds can begin at the most unexpected moment and there are many reasons for this phenomenon: from ordinary mechanical damage to the vessels of the nose to more serious diseases. Why your nose is bleeding can be helped by a specialist who you should contact if the bleeding recurs repeatedly. In any case, you should know how to stop bleeding and what actions to take when simple methods do not help.

Nosebleed(scientifically epistaxis) is a developmental anomaly in which blood bleeds from the vessels of the nasal cavity. The danger of such a condition may include large blood losses, which threatens human life and health. According to statistics, about 20% of all patients with epistaxis turn to ENT doctors for emergency help. 80-85% of patients are diagnosed with problems with the hemostatic system. About 85% of cases of epistaxis are a symptom of diseases of the organs and systems of the body, and in 15% of cases the causes of the phenomenon are pathologies of the nasal cavity.

Types of nosebleeds are determined by their abundance:

Minor hemorrhage - a few milliliters of blood flows from one nostril. Hemorrhage can be stopped quickly with the right help. Negative aspects of the condition are fear, confusion, discomfort.
Moderate hemorrhage - about 300 ml of blood flows from the nose in adults. The consequences of heavy blood loss are lightheadedness, weakness in the body, spots before the eyes, thirst, rapid pulse, pale skin, shortness of breath, and ringing in the ears.
Profuse (massive, severe) bleeding is dangerous for humans. Blood loss can be more than 300 ml. Medicine has recorded cases when the volume of blood flowing from the nose was more than a liter. The consequence of the condition can be hemorrhagic shock, accompanied by loss of consciousness, a significant decrease in blood pressure, and insufficient blood circulation in the organs.

Nosebleeds are classified as front(blood comes out through the nostrils) and rear(blood descends along the back wall of the nasopharynx). Anterior hemorrhage is rarely profuse, does not threaten the life and health of the victim, and can be stopped independently. Posterior bleeding is characterized by excessive profuseness and can be stopped only with the help of doctors.

Causes of nasal hemorrhage

Nosebleeds can occur for many reasons, which are divided into general and local.

Causes of bleeding		Characteristic diseases
Are common	Thinning and other degenerative processes in the walls of blood vessels	Vasculitis (inflammation of the internal walls of blood vessels), infectious pathologies, vascular atherosclerosis, lack of calcium, potassium and vitamin C (hypovitaminosis).
	Hormonal instability	Typically during adolescence, pregnancy, and menopause.
	Increased blood pressure	Hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart anomalies, adrenal oncology, fatigue and emotional exhaustion, aortic, mitral valve stenosis, lung and kidney diseases.
	Blood pathology	Leukemia, impaired hemostasis, cirrhosis, aplastic anemia, hemophilia, hepatitis. Frequent nosebleeds indicate insufficient platelet production - thrombocytopenic purpura.
	Other reasons	Mental disorders, frequent migraines, regular nasal tamponade, as a result of which the vessels of the organ are injured and atrophy of the mucous membrane occurs.
Local	Injuries	Impacts, falls, surgical interventions, diagnostic procedures, as a result of which cartilage tissue and vessels of the nasal cavity are injured.
	Diseases of the ENT organs	Adenoids, sinusitis, sinusitis, rhinitis. Nosebleeds are especially common with uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictors and hormonal drugs.
	Anomalies in the development of the olfactory organ	Dystrophy of the mucous membrane due to uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictor drops, congenital pathology of the veins and arteries of the nose (in particular their local expansion), curvature of the nasal septum, location of blood vessels close to the surface.
	Neoplasms of various origins	Benign tumors, cancer, granuloma of a specific type, angioma, polyps, adenoids.
	Foreign bodies in the nose	Worm infections, small objects and insects entering the olfactory cavity, careless nasal hygiene.

Nosebleeds in an adult may be due to the influence of external factors. These include:

Being in dry air conditions. Due to the constant inhalation of dry air, the nasal mucosa dries out and sticks together with small vessels, which in turn also become weak and brittle.
Long-term use of certain groups of medications: corticosteroids, antihistamines, vasoconstrictor drops, blood thinners.
Overheating of the body, sunstroke or heatstroke. The condition is usually accompanied by weakness, lightheadedness, nausea, and fainting. There is a buzzing in the ears.
Severe sneezing or coughing, which sharply increases pressure in the vessels of the nose.
Intoxication of the body through inhalation of harmful vapors, gases, aerosols, thermal, electrical and chemical burns of the mucous membrane, prolonged exposure to radiation on the body.
Pressure changes in the atmosphere.
Serious physical activity.

Causes of frequent nosebleeds

A doctor who has fully examined the patient can answer why the nose often bleeds. The reason for regular epistaxis is the structural feature of the cavity of the olfactory organ. Regular, scanty nosebleeds when sneezing, coughing or rhinitis indicate the fragility of the Kisselbach plexus vessels. Bleeding from the nose during ozena (also known as atrophic rhinitis) often occurs due to the drying out of the mucous membrane and blood vessels that burst and bleed.

Frequent epistaxis is observed with hormonal instability. The phenomenon is considered especially dangerous for pregnant women, who undergo serious changes in their body during this period. Due to an increase in the level of sex hormones, the blood supply to the vessels of the whole body increases. And if a woman has weak, fragile blood vessels, she may experience frequent nosebleeds. In pregnant women, this symptom indicates high blood pressure, kidney or liver problems.

There are always reasons for nosebleeds. A complete examination of the body will help determine what exactly caused the bleeding. Based on the results of tests and studies, the attending physician will select the optimal treatment method. In any case, if nosebleeds start for no reason, you should be examined in a clinic - self-medication can be disastrous.

The first signs of previous bleeding. How to recognize?

Recognizing whether blood is coming from the nose or not is not that difficult. The main thing is to pay attention to the characteristic signs of nasal blood loss:

Precursors: dizziness, burning and discomfort in the nose, ringing in the ears, headache, pale skin, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, shortness of breath.
As a rule, the blood running from the nose is not foamy, but homogeneous. If it bubbles and foams, then the origin of the bleeding is pulmonary.
With epistaxis, the blood is dark red, with pulmonary bleeding it is bright scarlet, and with gastric bleeding it is dark, closer to coffee color, with a thick consistency.
If blood flows along the back wall of the nasopharynx, the patient may vomit with dark blood.

During the examination, the doctor will determine exactly what origin the nosebleeds have and what their cause is. To make a diagnosis, you will need to undergo pharyngoscopy, ultrasound of internal organs, a coagulogram, ECG, EEG, echocardiography, x-ray of the nasopharynx, MRI of the nasopharynx, general analysis of urine and blood.

How to stop epistaxis? First aid for bleeding

If an adult or elderly person has a nosebleed, follow these steps:

First aid is to stop the bleeding. First you need to calm down, sit the victim on a chair, tilt his head forward a little.
In order for air to freely penetrate into the victim’s lungs, you should unbutton his belt, the top buttons of his shirt, untie his tie (if epistaxis occurs in men), unfasten his bra, and remove jewelry (if nosebleeds occur in women).
You need to place a cold compress (ice from the freezer, wrapped in a napkin) on the bridge of your nose. You need to keep the compress for 10 minutes.
If blood has dropped into the nasopharynx, it needs to be spat out.
If the bleeding is mild, you can pinch the nostrils at the wings of the nose with your fingers for 5-7 minutes. If there is an assistant who will pinch the victim's nostrils, the patient can stretch two arms up if epistaxis is observed from two nostrils, or one corresponding to the bleeding nasal passage. Thus, the blood flow in the organ slows down, and the resulting blood clot clogs the vessel.
If there is significant bleeding, 3% peroxide or any drug with a vasoconstrictor effect can be instilled into the nostrils.
If the blood continues to flow, then peroxide is applied to a cotton swab and inserted into the nasal passage, gently pressing it against the central wall of the nose.
If blood flows through the nose unexpectedly due to overheating, the victim must be taken to a cool place and an ice compress applied to the nose. The victim will need hospitalization.
If the patient is unconscious, you should lay him on his back and move his head to the side. Then call an ambulance.
If first aid does not give positive results within 15-20 minutes, you need to go to the clinic.

If measures to stop nasal hemorrhage are successful and the victim feels well, he should be given sweet tea and taken out into the fresh air.

What can and cannot be done when bleeding?

What is prohibited?

Throw your head back - blood can go down the esophagus, causing a gag reflex; cause suffocation.
Do not blow blood from your nose: the consequence of rash actions is severe bleeding.
Do not remove the tampon from the nostril with a sharp movement - it should first be soaked with peroxide.
You cannot lean forward too much - this will worsen hemorrhage.
It is not recommended to lie horizontally and hold your head straight - it is better to turn it to the side.
If the reason why blood is pouring from the nose is a foreign object, there is no need to try to get it out yourself.

When to see a doctor?

You should seek medical help if:

there is heavy blood loss (from 200 ml);
there is an injury to the nose or skull;
if a sudden nosebleed does not stop even after measures have been taken to stop it;
there is a worsening of chronic diseases;
acute viral infections have been diagnosed;
the patient’s general health has worsened;
the victim has high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus;
Symptoms include vomiting blood.

Therapy for nosebleeds

Treatment methods for pathology consist of three principles: rapid relief of bleeding, drug therapy aimed at reducing blood loss, and impact on the cause of the problem.

Drug treatment. If a patient has a nose bleed and this phenomenon occurs repeatedly, he may be prescribed vaso-strengthening, hemostatic, blood clotting, and blood pressure-lowering drugs.
Cauterization of the nasal mucosa. It is used if the factor causing blood to drip from the nose is the small vessels of the anterior wall of the organ.
Oxygen therapy is oxygen therapy.
Tamponade is performed in a hospital setting exclusively by the attending physician. Nasal tamponade is distinguished as anterior and posterior. The procedure is performed with gauze tampons or a hemostatic sponge.
Surgical methods. For mild bleeding, the surgeon can inject novocaine (0.5%) or quinine dihydrochloride (0.5-1%) under the mucosa, remove the submucosa of the nasal septum, and scrape out vascular growths. If blood constantly flows through the nose, ligation of the vessels is performed; in case of a recurrent problem, nasal dermoplasty is performed (the mucous membranes of the anterior part of the nasal cavity are excised and replaced with a skin flap taken from the patient’s postauricular area).

There are many reasons why a nose may bleed. And this may not be a one-time phenomenon, but a constant problem, the origin of which must be clarified without fail in order to exclude serious pathologies.