5 Common Causes of Nosebleeds Overview
Last Updated: March 20, 2024
Published By: MediFind Medical Staff
What causes nosebleeds?
Most nosebleeds are common and usually go away on their own. Common causes of nosebleeds include certain medications or health conditions, or even blowing your nose too much or too hard. But it is important to seek medical attention in serious cases.
Please see your provider if:
- Your nosebleed lasts longer than 30 minutes.
- Nosebleeds happen on a regular basis.
- You have trouble breathing or the blood flows to the back of your throat.
- You feel weak or dizzy during the nosebleed.
MediFind shares common causes of nosebleeds below. Learn more about how MediFind works here. You can also enter your symptoms into MediFind’s Symptom Checker to receive customized results.
Dry Air
During cold winter weather, the air you breathe tends to be dry. Cold air has less moisture than warm air, and heated indoor air can also dry out your nasal passages. The dryness can lead to nasal irritation, which can cause nosebleeds. Experts suggest drinking more water to keep your body hydrated. Use saline nasal sprays, gels, or rinses to reduce the dryness in your nose. You might also consider getting a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your home. If you take steps to reduce the effects of dry winter air and you’re still getting nosebleeds when you blow your nose, find a doctor near you here.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis (or sinus infections) happens when the lining of the sinuses becomes swollen or inflamed. This is due to an inflammatory reaction or an infection from a virus, bacteria, or fungus. Common symptoms include bad breath, cough (especially at night), fatigue, fever, headache, pressure-like pain behind the eyes, toothache, tenderness of the face, nasal stuffiness and discharge, sore throat, and postnasal drip. These symptoms follow a cold that does not get better or gets worse after 7-10 days. Sinus infections typically resolve on their own. However, your provider may prescribe treatments like antibiotics, allergy shots, or corticosteroids in severe cases. Find a primary care doctor near you here.
Allergic Rhinitis
”Rhinitis” refers to inflammation of the nasal passages. Allergic rhinitis occurs when you breathe in an allergen. An allergen is something you are allergic to, like dust, animal dander, or pollen. When a person with allergic rhinitis breathes in an allergen, the body releases chemicals that cause allergy symptoms. These symptoms include runny or stuffy nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, and decreased sense of smell. The best treatment is to avoid the allergen that causes symptoms. Your provider may recommend medications like antihistamines, corticosteroids, decongestants, and allergy shots. Find a primary care doctor near you here.
Medications
Some medications can cause nosebleeds. Allergy medications, like decongestants and antihistamines, can dry out nasal membranes and lead to nosebleeds. If you are taking aspirin, blood thinners, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), you may have nosebleeds that are heavier and more difficult to stop. Blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) and others may also cause nosebleeds. If your doctor has prescribed a daily blood thinner to prevent blood clots and you are having regular nosebleeds, it is important to seek medical attention. You can find a doctor nearby here.
Recreational Drugs
The nose contains fragile blood vessels. It doesn’t take much for them to rupture and bleed. Different things can burst these vessels. This includes taking recreational drugs. When you snort a drug up your nose (intranasally), there is a significant risk of nosebleeds. For example, snorting cocaine causes the blood vessels to constrict. This means they carry less blood and don’t heal as quickly or easily. Long-term intranasal drug use causes serious, permanent damage to the nose. If you wish to seek help with drug addiction, there are specialists who can help. They will not judge you. Find an addiction specialist near you here.
Other less common causes include:
Understanding the Results
Use our Symptom Checker to add your information and get your custom results.
Differences in Age Groups
Posterior nosebleeds happen when blood flows down the back of the throat from the deepest part of the nose. They are more common in older individuals with high blood pressure or those who have had facial injuries. Children and teens are more likely to have anterior nosebleeds, which occur at the front of the nose.
Differences among Men and Women
Nosebleeds can happen to anyone regardless of gender. However, some factors may influence how often they occur. For instance, individuals assigned female at birth might experience more nosebleeds during hormonal changes, pregnancy, menstrual cycles, or while using birth control.
Disclaimer
MediFind provides content for informational purposes only. MediFind does not provide medical advice. This content should not replace a health care professional’s medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Contact a licensed health care provider with any questions about your own health. Contact 911 in the event of a medical emergency.