Nosebleeds are considered severe when there is blood loss. Nosebleeds (blood from the nose). What treatment should be given for frequent bleeding?

The causes of nosebleeds in adults can vary. To identify them for sure, it is recommended to consult a doctor and undergo a medical examination. If in the near future you cannot get to the hospital, then you can find out the main causes of nosebleeds in adults from the presented article.

general information

Nosebleeds (the causes in adults will be described a little below) are concepts that are close, but not equal in meaning. To find out what the difference is between these pathological processes, let’s define each of them:

  1. Nose bleed. This phenomenon is observed when blood comes from the vessels of the nasal cavity, as well as its paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx. As a rule, this process occurs due to a violation of their integrity.
  2. Bleeding from the nose. Most often, this pathological condition occurs when the upper walls of the nasal cavity are damaged. In other words, the integrity of the vessels located in the skull is compromised.

Sources of bleeding

Nosebleeds in adults and children can have different sources. So, blood often comes from the respiratory tract, esophagus and even the stomach. In such cases, it flows into the nasal cavity through the so-called choanae, that is, internal openings that connect the pharynx.

Even the most experienced doctors do not know everything about nosebleeds in adults and children, because the mucous membrane of this organ is very actively supplied with blood, as it has a huge blood network woven from small vessels and capillaries.

According to statistics, most often regularly occurring nosebleeds indicate the development of a serious illness. Although this pathology can also occur in completely healthy people of different ages.

Bleeding from the nose: causes

The causes of nosebleeds in adults and children are divided into local and general. To understand how they differ among people of different ages, let’s look at them in more detail.

Children

The mucous membrane of a child’s nose is quite delicate, which is why it is easily injured. Its blood supply is provided by branches of the carotid artery. In 90% of cases in children, it is the small capillaries that bleed, which are located in the anterior-lower section of the septum of the new cavity, where, in fact, the most bleeding zone is located, informally called the Kisselbach zone.

In childhood, in addition to general and local causes of nosebleeds, there are also external ones. These include damage to the vessels of the mucous membrane:

  • foreign body (pea button, pencil, toy parts, etc.);
  • while picking your nose with your finger.

Local reasons

Causes of local nosebleeds in young children include:

  • atrophic rhinitis;
  • nasal injuries, as well as bruises or fractures;
  • tumors in the nasal passages (hemangiomas, angiofibromas or polyps);
  • drying out of the nasal cavity, which leads to capillary fragility (during prolonged exposure to an unventilated and very hot room).

Common reasons

Common causes of nosebleeds in young children include:

  • increased body temperature of the child;
  • infectious diseases (for example, ARVI, scarlet fever, influenza, etc.);
  • blood diseases with impaired coagulation;
  • increased intracranial or blood pressure;
  • liver diseases;
  • hereditary diseases (for example, hemophilia);
  • excessive physical activity (during sports, games, etc.);
  • hormonal changes;
  • lack of certain microelements and vitamins in the body;
  • overheating in the sun, as well as sudden changes in pressure (atmospheric).

Teenagers

Bleeding from the nose is a dangerous sign if this deviation occurs very often and is accompanied by headaches or other pain.

It should be noted that the general and local causes of nosebleeds in adolescents are the same as in young children. But most often this deviation is associated with hormonal changes in the child’s body (during puberty).

Among other things, blood from a teenager’s nose can regularly flow due to increased arterial or intracranial pressure due to excessive psycho-emotional or physical stress. In other words, overwork is the most likely cause of bleeding in children 12-16 years old.

Adults

What are the causes of nosebleeds in adults? They are also divided into local and general. By the way, with age, this phenomenon occurs more and more often. Let's take a closer look at what it may be connected with.

Local reasons

Local causes of nosebleeds in adults may include the following:


Common reasons

What else can cause nosebleeds? Causes in adults (general) are often as follows:

  • disorders in the blood coagulation system, as well as its diseases (for example, leukemia) and hemorrhagic diathesis;
  • lack of vitamins K and C in the body, lack of calcium;
  • congenital pathology (for example, Rendu-Osler disease, hemophilia);
  • pathology of the vascular system (for example, hypertension, heart defects, atherosclerosis and vascular abnormalities);
  • pathological conditions due to sudden changes in pressure (most often found in pilots, divers, astronauts, climbers, etc.);
  • increased temperature (for example, with kidney and liver diseases, infectious diseases);
  • when the body overheats;
  • hormonal imbalances (for example, during pregnancy or menopause);
  • taking medications that prevent blood clotting.

It should also be noted that nosebleeds in healthy people can occur due to a stressful situation or significant physical activity. The cause of this deviation is often the inhalation of dry or frosty air (hot summer or cold winter).

Often healthy adults may leak after prolonged exposure to the sun (or as a result of so-called “sunstroke”). In this case, a person experiences tinnitus, weakness, severe headaches, and sometimes loss of consciousness.

If bleeding in healthy people occurs infrequently and is in no way associated with serious internal diseases, then, as a rule, this phenomenon stops quickly and is not particularly profuse.

Aged people

In older people, nosebleeds can occur for the same reasons as in healthy adults, but with some nuances. The main feature of this age is that in an old person, the capillaries in the back of the nose lose their elasticity over time, resulting in heavy bleeding.

It should also be noted that a fairly common cause of this deviation in older people is hypertension.

Why might my nose bleed?

Now you know why certain people periodically or constantly experience nosebleeds. 4 main reasons:

  • mechanical damage to the vessels located in the nasal cavity;
  • hormonal imbalance;
  • internal diseases;
  • arterial or intracranial pressure.

Nosebleeds: causes, treatment and first aid

Above we talked in detail about why such a deviation can occur in a person at a given age. Now I would like to tell you how to provide first aid for such a deviation.

If a person has severe nosebleeds, it is recommended:

  1. Sit on a chair and tilt your head slightly. It is highly not recommended to tip it back, since blood can easily be swallowed as a result, cause vomiting, or even enter the respiratory tract.
  2. If the bleeding was caused by overheating in the sun, then the person should be immediately taken to the shade or a ventilated room (preferably cool).
  3. During bleeding, it is recommended to unfasten the collar and then open the window for more access to fresh cool air.
  4. Apply a fabric bag filled with ice or a bandage (handkerchief) soaked in cold water to your nose.
  5. If it takes a long time, then the wing of the respiratory organ should be pressed with your finger against the nasal septum and held there for about 10 minutes.
  6. To quickly stop bleeding, you need to moisten a swab (gauze or cotton) in a 3% peroxide solution and carefully insert it into the nose.

Nosebleeds are a fairly common condition and complicate the course of many diseases. Its manifestations and consequences have a wide range. The root cause of this pathology is allergic, traumatic injuries to the nose or an underlying disease. In some cases, nosebleeds can occur in a practically healthy person (for example, after severe fatigue, prolonged exposure to the sun or frost). Under such conditions, the mucous membrane dries out, causing injury to small blood vessels. Usually, medical attention is not required here, since the bleeding from the nose stops on its own.

Nose bleed

Discharge of blood from the nose (epistaxis) begins suddenly in some patients, while in others it is preceded by prodromal phenomena:

  • Dizziness.
  • Headache.
  • Tickling or itching in the nose.
  • Noise in ears.

You need to know that blood can enter the nose from other parts of the upper respiratory tract: lungs, larynx, pharynx, trachea, and sometimes through the auditory tube from the middle ear. This can be recognized by examining the ENT organs.

Nosebleed

There are severe (strong), moderate and minor nosebleeds.

  1. Severe nosebleeds poses a threat to life. It occurs with severe facial injuries. It is characterized not only by intensity, but also by relapses after some time. Blood loss per day ranges from 200 ml to 1 liter or more. In this case, the person experiences severe general weakness, sweating, and a drop in blood pressure.
  2. At moderate nosebleeds blood will be released from several tens to 200 ml in an adult. Hemodynamics are usually within the physiological norm. In weakened adults and children, external bleeding often does not give a complete picture of the actual blood loss, since some of the blood is swallowed, flowing into the pharynx.
  3. At minor bleeding blood is released in drops for a short time. Its volume is several milliliters. Frequently recurring, long-term recurring, although seemingly harmless, nasal discharge can negatively affect the developing young body. They require radical treatment.

Causes of nosebleeds

The nasal mucosa is actively supplied with blood. And frequent nosebleeds are the initial signs of the development of severe pathological processes in the body. The causes of nosebleeds are divided into local and general.

Are common:

  • Loss of elasticity of blood vessels and their fragility accompany diseases that are associated with hormonal regulation (ovarian dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, etc.). Spontaneous nosebleeds also signal a serious illness - pulmonary emphysema. It represents the inability of the affected areas to receive normal oxygen supply. With this pathology, blood, rushing into the upper parts of the respiratory tract, creates a high load on the venous walls.
  • If headache, tinnitus, and weakness appear before bleeding, it can be assumed that it is associated with increased blood pressure. In hypertension, the appearance of streams of blood from the nose serves as a compensatory mechanism that prevents overloading the blood vessels of the brain. However, intense bleeding can lead to a rapid drop in blood pressure and collapse.
  • Leukemia, severe blood diseases, and malignant tumors in the bone marrow can cause frequent nosebleeds. Nosebleeds cause pressure surges. This can provoke kidney and liver diseases, which are destructive in nature: nephrosclerosis, nephrosis, cirrhosis of the liver.
  • Often nosebleeds appear due to changes in hormonal levels (in adolescence, during pregnancy).
  • However, nosebleeds are not always caused by serious illnesses. For example, their appearance is stimulated by the excessive use of medications that act on the receptors of the mucous membranes (nasivin, otrivin, oxymetazoline). The mechanism of their action is that they reduce the secretion of exudate and block irritation. Therefore, their frequent use leads to fragility of blood vessels and dry mucosa.

Local:

  • Among the local factors, features of the anatomical structure are distinguished. The discharge of blood during a runny nose, coughing, or sneezing indicates that the walls of the Kisselbach plexus vessels are weak. Such nosebleeds usually appear in childhood.
  • The cause of nosebleeds is mucosal polyps or angioma. These diseases require immediate medical attention, as in some cases they can be malignant. Injuries are also a factor that contributes to changes in the structure of the vessels of the nasal septum. They can lead to the appearance of neoplasms.
  • Atrophic rhinitis can lead to spontaneous bleeding from the nose. With this disease, the mucous membrane dries out and becomes thinner. This leads to the fact that the vessels are damaged even with minor touches.

Frequent nosebleeds

In adults, frequent nosebleeds are associated with factors such as:

  • Diseases of the blood, spleen, liver.
  • Bacterial infections.
  • Excessive mental and physical stress.
  • Prolonged exposure to the sun.
  • Lack of vitamins (in particular vitamin C).

In older people:

  • Atherosclerosis.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Thinning of the walls of blood vessels.

For people of any age:

  • Deviation of the nasal septum.
  • Severe cough, runny nose, sneezing.
  • Excessive dry air.
  • Dust in the premises.
  • Allergic reactions.

At an early age, the peculiarities of the development of the respiratory system determine the fact that in children, nosebleeds are not always caused by pathological conditions. Most often, nosebleeds in children occur due to damage to the nasal mucosa by mechanical means:

  • Trauma.
  • Bruised.
  • Damage caused by a fall.
  • Insertion of small foreign objects into the nose.

If a child produces mucus with thick blood clots from the nose along with blood, it means that an inflammatory process is occurring in the nasal cavity (sinusitis, rhinitis, etc.) This condition requires additional treatment.

Prolonged and persistent nosebleeds in children, which are combined with the appearance of bruises and hematomas, may indicate hemophilia and a disorder of blood clotting.

Blood from a child's nose

Often, general weakness of the immune system leads to bleeding from the child’s nose. One of the reasons is hypovitaminosis. With a lack of vitamins C and A in the body, the walls of blood vessels become fragile and brittle, and the slightest physical activity can cause an increase in pressure, resulting in rupture of blood vessels and nosebleeds.

Dry indoor air thins the mucous membrane. If you often use heaters in the room where the child is located and do not ventilate it enough, he may start bleeding from the nose.


Chronic runny nose causes fragility and fragility of nasal vessels. If a child often suffers from acute respiratory infections, he may also experience nosebleeds.

With endocrine disorders and vegetative-vascular dystonia in children, blood pressure increases, which is a potential cause of bleeding from the nose.


The victim should receive the following assistance for nosebleeds:

  • Monitor the general condition and carry out first aid measures for bleeding.
  • When the bleeding stops, lubricate the nasal mucosa with Vaseline oil.
  • Increase air humidity (using a humidifier or wet sheet).
  • Subsequently, it is good to instill preparations based on sea water (saline, aquamaris) into the nose.

How to stop nosebleeds

There are many ways to stop nosebleeds. Depending on the reasons that caused it, as well as the individual characteristics of the body, different treatment methods are used. The main thing is not to make mistakes:

  • It is not recommended to tilt your head back, as blood (along the back of the nose) will flow into the throat. This can lead to the fact that (if it gets into the respiratory tract) you can suffocate or swallow it to the point of vomiting. For the same reason, you can't lie down. You need to keep your head upright or slightly tilted forward.
  • Secondly, do not forget to blow your nose, because blood clots prevent the vessels of the nose from contracting.
  • You need to slow down the blood flow by applying ice to the bridge of your nose.

You can drip vasoconstrictor drugs into the nose (ephedrine solution, galazolin), take 100 - 200 mg of ascorbic acid and heart drops.

First aid for nosebleeds

First aid for nosebleeds And should be provided as quickly as possible. To do this, you need to know the basic techniques for providing it:

  • Sit the patient down, tilting the torso slightly forward.
  • If there are no signs of a nasal fracture, then you can lightly press the wings of the nose against the nasal septum with your index and thumb (for 3 to 5 minutes). At the same time, ask the victim to slightly tilt his head forward and breathe through his mouth.
  • Soak a cotton swab in 3% cold water or hydrogen peroxide. Insert a tampon into the nostril (bleeding) and pinch it with your fingers. Place a piece of cloth soaked in cold water or an ice pack on your nose. Stay in this position for 10 - 20 minutes.
  • To make sure that bleeding does not continue inside the nasopharynx, you need to look into the patient’s mouth, ask him to spit out saliva and make sure that there is no blood in it. Afterwards, carefully remove the tampon (after moistening it with cold water using a pipette.)

Important: The victim should not be placed horizontally and his head should not be thrown back. Blood, if it gets into the nasopharynx, can cause vomiting.

If, despite all efforts, the bleeding cannot be stopped, you need to call an ambulance as soon as possible.

Treatment of nosebleeds

Treatment of nosebleeds consists of stopping the bleeding as quickly as possible, as well as compensating for blood loss or taking therapeutic measures to combat the underlying disease.

In case of anterior nosebleeds, to stop the bleeding, you need to put cold on the nose area for 15 minutes, press the nostril, or insert a tampon soaked in a hemostatic agent into the nasal cavity. Anemization of the nasal mucosa is also done with a solution of ephedrine or adrenaline. If bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes, nasal packing is performed.

If the above measures are ineffective, surgical treatment is performed. The tactics and scope of the operation are determined by localizing the source of bleeding. If nosebleeds recur and are localized in the anterior parts of the nose, then the following are used:

  • Cryodestruction (freezing with liquid nitrogen).
  • Endoscopic coagulation.
  • Introduction of sclerosing drugs.
  • Other measures that are aimed at obliterating the lumen of the vessels of the Kisselbach zone.

Treating nosebleeds at home

  1. At frequent nosebleeds take a small iron key, hang it on a woolen thread (precisely a woolen one) around your neck so that the key is on your back between your shoulder blades. The nosebleed will stop immediately.
  2. 1/3 tbsp. l. dissolve alum powder (in pharmacies) in a glass of water and with this solution rinse your nose when bleeding. The bleeding quickly stops, the attacks become less frequent, and then disappear altogether.
  3. If you have frequent nosebleeds, eat a 2 cm long piece of aloe vera leaf before meals for 10-15 days. If blood comes from the right nostril, raise your right hand up above your head and pinch the nostril with your left and vice versa.
  4. Place cotton wool soaked in fresh nettle juice into your nose. 10-15 minutes will be enough for the bleeding to stop. The next day the procedure can be repeated.
  5. Traditional medicine recommends that for nosebleeds, soak a cotton swab in alcohol and place it on the bridge of the nose, the bone, and cover with a cloth on top. Your eyes will sting, nothing, close your eyes and be patient. Lie down for 5-10 minutes. If bleeding recurs a month or two after this procedure when it shouldn't, repeat again.
  6. At very severe nosebleeds pour half a bucket of cold water on the patient’s head (conveniently from a watering can), and pour half a bucket onto the upper back.

With timely treatment, nosebleeds are not dangerous. In some cases (with increased blood pressure), it can lower it, thereby preventing bleeding in the brain. However, if the bleeding is threatening, it must be stopped immediately.

Repeated bleeding from the nose gives reason to suspect a general illness and requires examination in a hospital. In such cases, only classical treatment methods should be used.

But, fortunately, in most cases, traditional medicine can help, recipes for which are given in our article.

Epistaxis, or nosebleeds, may be a symptom of a number of diseases of the nose and other organs, and in addition, in some cases it is observed in healthy people.

The main causes of nosebleeds can be:
injuries,
diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses (sinusitis, rhinitis),
taking a number of medications,
blood diseases, etc.

For severe nosebleeds that cannot be stopped on your own, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor, which will determine the cause of epistaxis and determine the course of treatment.

Causes of epistaxis in adults

Bleeding from the nose does not in all cases indicate an existing disease and can sometimes appear in people without health problems. Nosebleeds that occur in a healthy person, usually not profuse, depend on previous emotional and physical stress and can be stopped without outside intervention.

Often the cause of nosebleeds in a healthy person is inhalation of frosty or dry air for a long time, which causes drying of the nasal mucosa and rupture of small vessels. Usually in this case, nosebleeds are not profuse and stop easily.

“Sunstroke” (overheating in the sun) can also cause nosebleeds in a healthy person. In this situation, epistaxis is accompanied by pain in the head, weakness, tinnitus, and even fainting.

If nosebleeds occur as a result of trauma to the nose (blow, fall), damage to the nasal structures (paranasal sinuses, cartilage, etc.) is likely. Typically, epistaxis resulting from injury is accompanied by swelling and obvious pain in the area of ​​the nose and the tissues that surround it. If the injury results in a fracture of the facial skull bones, deformation of the nose or the entire face usually becomes noticeable.

If, with mild nosebleeds that look like blood clots, mucous discharge appears from the nose, a possible cause is inflammation of the nasal mucosa, the so-called. rhinitis. Blood clots released during rhinitis appear as a result of injury to small vessels of the nasal mucosa due to inflammation.

When epistaxis occurs against the background of headaches, runny nose and is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, the likely cause may be inflammation of the paranasal sinuses - sinusitis (frontal sinusitis, sinusitis, etc.).

When nosebleeds occur in a patient with hypertension, the likely cause is a significant increase in blood pressure - hypertensive crisis. In this case, epistaxis occurs as a result of rupture of small vessels of the nasal mucosa due to increased pressure.

The appearance of nosebleeds may be associated with irritation of the nasal mucosa against the background of using a number of nasal sprays: Beconase, Nasonex and other drugs that contain corticosteroids or antiallergic (antihistamine) agents. Epistaxis is likely to occur in people who have been taking medications that prevent blood clotting for a long time: Warfarin, Heparin, Aspirin and so on.

Frequent nosebleeds, especially when combined with uterine bleeding, a tendency to bruise, and increased bleeding gums, are characteristic of blood diseases such as aplastic (when the bone marrow stops producing blood cells), leukemia (a malignant blood disease), thrombocytopenic purpura (severe decrease in platelet count), etc.

Epistaxis is also one of the signs of nasal tumors (both malignant and benign). The main symptoms of nasal tumors are:
painful sore or swelling in the nose,
bloody discharge from the nose (clear in appearance),
changing the shape of the nose,
headaches, etc.

Causes of epistaxis in children

Bleeding from the nose in childhood also does not in all cases indicate an existing disease and can be associated with mechanical irritation (for example, with fingers) of the nasal mucosa, trauma to the nose, the entry of foreign bodies into the nose (small particles of toys, peas, etc. ).

If a child develops mucous discharge from the nose that contains blood clots, this usually indicates a runny nose (rhinitis).
Persistent, frequent nosebleeds in children, which are combined with a tendency to bruise, may indicate hemophilia or a number of other diseases that are associated with blood clotting disorders.

Causes of epistaxis in pregnant women

The main causes of nosebleeds in pregnant women are:
inhalation of frosty or dry air for a long time (during walks in winter),
lack of calcium or vitamin K in the body, which occurs during pregnancy and can cause epistaxis, as well as increased bleeding of the gums, etc.
nosebleeds accompanied by severe pain in the head may occur due to high blood pressure. In this case, medical attention is required. Your blood pressure will be measured and the likely cause of the bleeding will be determined.

First aid for nosebleeds in children and adults

If you experience nosebleeds, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:
1. The patient should be seated and his head tilted forward. It is strictly forbidden to tilt the patient's head back to avoid ingestion of blood and vomiting or penetration of blood into the respiratory tract!
2. It is necessary to provide the patient with epistaxis with good access to fresh air (open the window, unbutton the patient’s shirt collar).
3. Place an ice bag on the person's nose. If the bleeding does not stop, use your finger to firmly press the nostril to the nasal septum approximately 5-10 minutes. Due to compression of the vessels of the nasal mucosa, bleeding stops in most cases.
4. If the cause of nosebleeds is a trauma to the nose, and it is accompanied by changes and swelling of the contour of the nose or the entire face, place a handkerchief or a bag of ice soaked in cold water on the nose area and consult a doctor immediately.
5. If the measures taken do not help stop the nosebleed, you can use some kind of vasoconstrictor medicine for a runny nose (for example, Naphthyzin, Naphazolin, Sanorin etc.). To do this, make a tampon from a small piece of gauze or bandage, approximately 10-15 see. This swab must be soaked in the medicine and inserted into the nasal cavity.
6. When nosebleeds are the result of a previous runny nose, it is necessary to lubricate a cotton swab with Vaseline and insert it into the nasal cavity. As a result of the action of Vaseline, the crust formed in the nose will soften and the bleeding will stop.
7. When bleeding from the nose occurs due to overheating, you must immediately take the patient to a well-ventilated place where the sun's rays do not penetrate. Apply a cloth soaked in cold water or ice to the nose area.

In what situations do you need to see a doctor urgently?

In the following situations, you need to urgently consult a specialist:
with nosebleeds resulting from trauma, combined with deformation and swelling of the nasal contours;
with heavy bleeding from the nose, which appears against the background of increased blood pressure or due to prolonged use of the medications listed above;
If a child has bleeding from the nose due to penetration of a foreign body into the nose, you should definitely contact a specialist - an ENT specialist. It is forbidden to try to pull out a foreign body on your own!
with bleeding from the nose that does not stop for more than 30 minutes, and if the measures listed above do not bring results;
for frequent nosebleeds that do not stop for a long time, accompanied by a tendency to bruise and increased bleeding of the gums, etc.

Treatment of nosebleeds

In a situation where nosebleeds are persistent, medical care includes:
1. Nasal tamponade – a method of stopping nosebleeds, which involves inserting gauze into the nasal cavity, pre-treated with Vaseline or a special paste that promotes blood clotting. There are two methods of inserting a tampon: anterior tamponade (insertion of a tampon from the nostril side) and posterior tamponade (from the oropharynx).
2.Usage surgical methods Stopping a nosebleed is suggested in situations where other methods do not have an effect, and involves blocking or ligating the arteries supplying the nose with blood, and a number of other measures.

Minor, isolated nosebleeds do not require special treatment. If you have frequent nosebleeds, you should contact a specialist who will conduct an examination, prescribe additional tests and determine the cause of the nosebleeds.

For nosebleeds that occur due to sinusitis or rhinitis (runny nose), no special treatment is required. In such a situation, a sufficient measure would be carrying out therapy for the underlying disease.

When nosebleeds occur while taking medications that inhibit blood clotting ( warfarin, heparin etc.), you should consult a doctor to adjust the dosage of medications or prescribe a course of calcium and vitamins.

Nasal bleeding is a pathological condition that can occur for various reasons in people of different ages. The most common factor that leads to nosebleeds is increased blood pressure.

Often everything ends successfully for the patient, without going to the ambulance, but in certain conditions it is impossible to do without the intervention of a doctor.

The main causes of nosebleeds - symptoms of what diseases can be caused by nosebleeds?

The phenomenon in question can occur spontaneously, regardless of certain diseases.

There are several factors that can provoke this condition:

  • Staying in direct sunlight for a long time.
  • Stressful state.
  • Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol favors the expansion of blood vessels, which affects the permeability of their walls.
  • Negative reaction of the body to taking certain medications.
  • Hormonal imbalance in the body due to age-related changes (in teenagers), as well as during pregnancy.

Blood from the nose may be a specific pathology of some professions that are associated with changes in atmospheric pressure.

This risk group includes pilots, climbers, etc.

Local causes that may lead to nosebleeds include:

  • Injury to the nose from the outside or from the mucous membrane.
  • Pathological neoplasms in the nasal cavity/sinuses, at the base of the skull.
  • Fracture of the skull. In such incidents, cerebrospinal fluid may also leak from the nose, which is white in color.
  • Violation of the integrity of the internal carotid artery by fragments of skull bones.
  • Inflammatory phenomena in the adenoids, sinusitis.
  • Dystrophic changes in the nasal mucosa. Similar transformations can occur against the background of atrophic rhinitis or.

Nosebleeds often develop against the background of a number of diseases, the main of which are:

  1. Malfunctions of the cardiovascular system: hypertension, atherosclerosis of blood vessels, various heart pathologies.
  2. Pathologies associated with the ability of blood to clot: platelet deficiency (thrombocytopenia), hemophilia, blood cancer, anemia. A lack of hemoglobin, a certain group of vitamins, causes blood thinning, and this negatively affects its clotting. This group also includes Randu-Osler syndrome, a congenital vascular pathology.
  3. Serious defects in the functioning of the spleen, liver, kidneys.
  4. Vegetovascular dystonia.
  5. Infection of the body, which is accompanied by an increase in body temperature and intoxication: influenza, ARVI, scarlet fever, sepsis. Under the influence of harmful microorganisms, the walls of blood vessels become thin and fragile: they are able to allow blood components to pass through, which prevents its rapid clotting.
  6. Pathologies of the thyroid gland.

Types of nosebleeds according to medical classification

Based on location, nosebleeds are of two types:

  1. Front. They do not lead to significant blood loss and can often be easily eliminated without medical intervention. The source of this type of nosebleed is the Kisselbach region, in which small blood vessels are concentrated.
  2. Rear. Such bleeding occurs due to rupture of the walls of large vessels, which are located deep in the mucous layers of the nasal cavity. These bleedings cannot be stopped on your own: the help of a doctor is required. Otherwise, significant blood loss may occur.

Depending on the amount of blood lost, these bleedings are divided into three groups:

  • Mild severity. Compared to the other two types of nosebleeds, this group is very common. In this case, the blood flows out in small drops, and can be stopped by pressing the wings of the nose. Such bleeding does not pose any danger to life, however, if it lasts for a long period of time, the patient will complain of loss of strength and slight dizziness.
  • Moderate (moderate) nosebleeds. Due to considerable volumes of blood loss (300 ml), the patient’s systolic blood pressure level decreases to 90-95 mm, the heartbeat quickens, and the skin turns pale.
  • Heavy bleeding. The amount of blood lost can exceed 1 liter, and if qualified assistance is not provided in time, the patient may die. The patient's general condition deteriorates sharply: systolic pressure drops to 80 mm, heart rate increases (up to 120 beats per minute), loss of consciousness, nausea, and vomiting are possible. A blood test confirms a decrease in hemoglobin levels.

What to do in case of nosebleeds in an adult or child, how to stop the bleeding - first aid and actions for bleeding

If a nosebleed occurs, the following steps should be taken:

  1. The victim needs, first of all, to calm down. To do this, you should monitor your breathing: it should be deep and slow. This will help minimize psycho-emotional stress and lower your heart rate.
  2. Monitor the correct position of the patient's body. It's better if he sits. However, if this is not possible, you need to slightly raise your head, but not tilt it back. Strong tilting of the head can lead to blood entering the stomach or respiratory tract. Such phenomena can provoke, respectively, vomiting or breathing problems. In addition, it is better if the blood flows into a certain container: this will help determine the amount of blood loss.

To stop mild nosebleeds, resort to the following measures:

  • Use your fingertips to press the wings of your nose to the bridge of your nose. This ensures mechanical compression of the blood vessels.
  • Instill the nasal cavity with drops that promote vasoconstriction (pharmazolin, naphthyzin, etc.). Before this manipulation, the victim needs to blow his nose to get rid of blood clots that have formed in the nasal cavity.
  • Apply 3% hydrogen peroxide solution to your nose. With a weak blood flow, a blood clot forms quickly enough and the bleeding stops.

If the nose is injured, the first aid algorithm is as follows:

  1. Cold should be applied to the damaged area: this will help constrict the blood vessels. A similar effect will be achieved if you put your hands in cold water. When using ice, you need to take short breaks every 10 minutes to avoid frostbite.
  2. Place your feet in a bowl of warm water. Such manipulation will provoke dilation of blood vessels in this part of the body, ensuring blood flow to the lower extremities and unloading the vessels of the nasal cavity.

If it is possible to stop the bleeding, the patient in any case needs to see a doctor to examine the condition of the nasal bones using an X-ray machine.

If the application of the above described methods of stopping bleeding is ineffective, as well as in case of severe nosebleeds, it is necessary to make gauze pad.

Before insertion, it must be moistened generously in hydrogen peroxide or aminocaproic acid.

Since this process is very painful, the victim can first lubricate both halves of the nose Lidocaine.

Frequent nosebleeds are a common reason for visiting a doctor. In some cases, it even leads to hospitalization of the patient, especially if the bleeding occurs after any injury. However, if there was a mechanical impact, there are no problems with making a diagnosis and prescribing treatment, but in other cases it is quite difficult to understand the causes of the pathology. Why does nosebleed occur, how dangerous is it, and what treatment can be prescribed for this condition?

There are many reasons for nosebleeds. The nasal cavity is well supplied with blood, the anterior nasal septum is saturated with blood vessels. Even a minor blow or any injury immediately leads to bleeding. Every person has encountered this unpleasant phenomenon at least once, but most often the bleeding itself stops after a while, and no more problems arise.

However, it is necessary to sound the alarm if nosebleeds begin to occur for no apparent reason, they recur and are difficult to stop.

There are several common external causes:

  • Sun and heat stroke. When the body overheats, dizziness and nausea are observed; a common symptom associated with increased blood pressure is nosebleeds. Overheating can be very dangerous; it is necessary to take the victim to a cool place as soon as possible and provide first aid.
  • Intoxication, poisoning, exposure to various chemicals. The blood vessels of the mucous membrane are constantly exposed to negative effects among chemical industry workers, those who work with various volatile substances, etc. Chronic poisoning leads to serious disorders in the body, manifested by frequent bleeding.
  • Taking antihistamines and some other medications. Long-term use of aspirin can lead to bleeding - it helps reduce clotting and thins the blood.

In addition to external causes, frequent nosebleeds can occur due to various infectious diseases. These include tuberculosis, syphilis, and liver and kidney diseases also negatively affect the condition of the mucous membrane. Blood often comes out of the nose with high blood pressure: in this case, the patient feels tinnitus, dizziness, and weakness.

Also, frequent nosebleeds occur with increased fragility of blood vessels, bleeding disorders and other diseases of the circulatory system.

In any case, if frequent causeless bleeding is observed, it is necessary to undergo a full examination as soon as possible in order to identify and eliminate the cause.

First aid for nosebleeds

If a nosebleed begins, it is important to provide the patient with first aid correctly. Often people begin to panic at the sight of blood - this further increases blood pressure and only increases bleeding. But if you know what to do, you can easily avoid unpleasant consequences for the body.

The person must be seated, ensuring peace. The head is not thrown back: blood should not enter the stomach, otherwise it may provoke vomiting. You should not blow your nose when bleeding - this will not help the patient, and the bleeding will be more difficult to stop. The head should be slightly tilted forward, a cotton swab should be placed in the nostril: it helps to form a plug and stop the bleeding.

You need to apply a cold object to the bridge of your nose - this will help narrow the blood vessels, and the blood will stop faster.

If the patient has lost consciousness, he should be placed on his back with his head turned to the side to avoid blood entering the stomach. If first aid for a nosebleed does not produce results, you must call an ambulance.

Useful video on how to properly stop a nosebleed.

What can you use and how to properly make a solution for rinsing your nose?

When is it necessary to urgently call a doctor? You need to pay attention to the warning signs:

  • Severe bleeding that does not stop for a long time. It is necessary to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible, and for this you have to use medical assistance.
  • The appearance of weakness, cold sweat, black spots before the eyes. As a rule, this condition is observed with severe blood loss, which needs to be stopped as quickly as possible.
  • General deterioration in health. Nosebleeds are just one symptom that may indicate a serious illness.

Treatment

Treatment for nosebleeds depends on the cause of the pathological condition. First of all, it is necessary to exclude exposure to hazardous factors: mechanical and chemical influences, the negative effects of medications, etc.

It is necessary to avoid overheating the body, too intense physical activity and other factors that can cause bleeding. If their cause cannot be immediately established, the doctor will prescribe a full examination, based on the results of which treatment will be prescribed.

Depending on the identified cause, the doctor may choose one of the following methods of treating nosebleeds:

  • If they are caused by polyps (benign tumors) in the nasal cavity, surgical treatment may be prescribed. The doctor will perform an operation and remove all formations from the nasal cavity, after which the bleeding will completely disappear.
  • If bleeding occurs due to chronic or other inflammatory processes, the doctor will prescribe special aerosols; treatment methods depend on the severity of the disease.
  • If it is due to damage by chemicals, it is necessary to achieve complete elimination of the damaging factor, after which a diet and special products with vitamins A and E are prescribed. They promote faster healing and restoration of blood vessels.
  • In case of bleeding due to long-term use of blood thinning drugs, the course of treatment must be reconsidered. Long-term use of such drugs poses a serious threat to human health: blood can come not only from the nose, but serious internal bleeding with unpredictable bleeding is possible.
  • If they are caused by any systemic diseases, complex therapy will be prescribed. It is necessary not only to remove the symptom, but to eliminate the very cause of its occurrence - this could be an infection, an allergic reaction, a benign or malignant tumor, etc. In all cases, after eliminating the cause, nosebleeds will disappear.

If an alarming symptom appears at least several times, it is imperative to start treatment. Bleeding from the nose is one of the first symptoms of such terrible diseases as cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, heart failure, etc. For frequent bleeding, the doctor will prescribe drugs that help increase blood clotting: these are Vikasol, calcium chloride and gluconate, as well as large doses vitamin C.

Surgery

In approximately 10% of cases, nosebleeds have to be stopped surgically.

The doctor may use one of the following techniques:

  • Cauterize the damaged vessel with a cotton swab dipped in a solution of silver nitrate. This procedure allows you to reliably stop bleeding due to crust formation.
  • In difficult cases, coagulation of the vessel is prescribed: modern technologies allow it to be carried out painlessly using a laser or electric current. Severe blood loss may even require plasma and donor blood transfusions.
  • For local bleeding, solutions of lidocaine or novocaine can be injected directly into the mucosa. During the surgical operation, the doctor performs resection of the cartilage and gentle local intervention in the mucous membrane.
  • Cryotherapy is freezing the damaged area using liquid nitrogen. This technique avoids the appearance of scar tissue. In addition, it causes minimal discomfort to the patient.

Modern technologies have expanded the capabilities of specialists: operations are carried out using the most gentle methods, which do not require long recovery and allow obtaining a guaranteed result.

Possible complications

Nosebleeds can be not only anterior, but also posterior: in the second case, blood begins to flow from the posterior wall of the nasal cavity, and in this case it is difficult to assess the extent of blood loss. If blood enters the stomach, it provokes vomiting of dark blood, which will only worsen the patient’s well-being. In this case, it is very difficult to stop the bleeding on your own; it is necessary to call an ambulance and provide assistance to the patient as quickly as possible.