2023-08-14 12:46:00
It often happens suddenly: Anyone who has ever had a ball hit their nose, blown their nose too hard or had an unfortunate fall on their nose will certainly be frightened when blood spurts out. But sometimes it comes naturally: nosebleeds.
The most important things at a glance
Possible causes of nosebleeds
In most cases, sudden nosebleeds in adults or children are completely harmless – often a cold, vigorous nose blowing or dry mucous membranes are enough to put a lot of strain on the nose. The result: Blood vessels in the nasal mucosa can burst and the nose starts to bleed. However, there are also serious diseases that can be considered with the symptom of nosebleeds (epistaxis). It is therefore important that if you have frequent nosebleeds, to be on the safe side, consult a doctor to clarify the exact causes.
Nosebleeds when you have a cold
Nosebleeds are often associated with a cold. During an infection of the respiratory tract, the mucous membrane is usually very dry and therefore irritated and damaged. Very frequent and vigorous blowing of the nose can easily injure the vessels in the nasal mucosa – the result can be blood in the handkerchief. As a rule, however, this is harmless and the nosebleed can be stopped quickly.
High blood pressure causes nosebleeds
Repeated nosebleeds may be an indication of previously undetected high blood pressure. In addition to headaches, dizziness, sleep disorders, nausea and blurred vision, nosebleeds are among the common symptoms of hypertension. Therefore, nosebleeds in combination with such symptoms should be taken seriously.
Nosebleeds when taking medication
Blood-thinning drugs are used for various diseases, for example in the area of the heart or blood vessels. These are designed to prevent dangerous blood clots from forming in the body. However, they can sometimes lead to nosebleeds if the wrong dosage is used. Nasal sprays, which have a decongestant effect on the nasal mucosa, can also promote bleeding. With regular use there is a risk of permanent damage to the nasal mucosa, which in turn increases the risk of epistaxis.
Discomfort in the nasal area as the cause
Various diseases in the area of the nose can also manifest themselves as nosebleeds. Polyps in the nose, nasal stones and inflammation of the paranasal sinuses are common examples of this. Nasal polyps are benign growths in the nasal mucosa that are usually only discovered when they are so large that those affected can hardly breathe through the nose. Other symptoms of polyps can include impaired sense of smell, a nasal congestion, and nosebleeds.
Nosebleeds as a result of illness
In rare cases, epistaxis can show up as a symptom of serious diseases such as a tumor in the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses. Other examples of nosebleeds as an alarm signal are liver cirrhosis and blood cancer/leukaemia:
liver cirrhosis: If the liver is damaged, for example by alcohol or viral infections, cirrhosis of the liver can develop over the years. As part of this liver disease, tissue knots can form and the connective tissue can scar – ultimately leading to the shrinkage of the organ. But cirrhosis of the liver is often not recognized until late. In the advanced stage, water retention and bleeding such as nosebleeds or stomach bleeding can also occur.Blood Cancer/Leukemia: Leukemia, also known colloquially as blood cancer, is a malignant disease of the white blood cells (leukocytes). The diagnosis comes as a shock to those affected. It often comes on suddenly and without clearly identifiable symptoms. In some cases, blood cancer is manifested by a sudden, severe feeling of illness with paleness and fever, loss of appetite, weight loss and tiredness. Increased nose or gum bleeding can also indicate acute leukemia.
How to stop nosebleeds
Nosebleeds are unpleasant, but in principle they are harmless. If you have a nosebleed for the first time, you don’t need to go to the doctor. But if it happens repeatedly, you should have it checked out.
Immediate measures to take at home:
First and foremost, keep calm. Sit up straight and tilt your head forward to allow blood to flow from your nose. Use your thumb and forefinger to gently pinch your nostrils for several minutes while breathing through your mouth. Lay down a cool compress on his neck.
In many cases, the immediate measures mentioned help to stop the bleeding. However, it is entirely possible that the bleeding will not stop immediately. The rule of thumb here is: If the nosebleed does not stop following 20 minutes, you should consult a doctor. If the nosebleed is very severe, it may be advisable to call an ambulance. This is also the case if the nosebleed was caused by a fall, for example, and serious injuries are likely. Otherwise, an ENT doctor is the right place to go for you.
Medical measure once morest nosebleeds: sclerotherapy
If you visit the ENT doctor in the event of an acute epistaxis, he can take various measures to stop the nosebleeds. If the bleeding is more easily and clearly localized in the front of the nose, the doctor can stop the nosebleed as the first form of treatment. There are various methods available for this – one example, according to the health portal “NetDoktor”, is cauterization of the blood vessels, for example with silver nitrate. Alternatively, the doctor can obliterate the nosebleed with a so-called laser or electrocoagulation.
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