Nosebleeds - causes and trestments

Nosebleeds - causes and treatments:

The medical term for a nosebleed is epistaxis. We can also say nasal hemorrhage. The human nose, and those of many animals are rich in blood vessels. Because of the position of the nose - right in the middle of the face - and all its blood vessels, most of us will have had at least one nosebleed at some time during our lives.

Nosebleeds are seldom a cause for alarm but can be life threatening in rare cases.

Spontaneous nosebleeds are fairly common, especially in children. When the mucous membrane (a mucus-secreting tissue) inside the nose dries, crusts, or cracks (the skin splits open) and is then picked, it is likely to bleed.

Because the nose is full of blood vessels and is inconveniently situated in the middle of the face, any minor injury to the face can cause the nose to bleed profusely.

Nosebleeds are also common in people taking anti-coagulants (blood-thinning medications, such as Aspirin), as well as in older people whose blood may take longer to clot. If the patient is taking anti-coagulants, has hypertension (high blood pressure), or a blood-clotting disorder, the bleeding may be harder to stop and could last over 20 minutes.

Fast facts on nosebleeds

Here are some key points about nosebleeds. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.

• Epistaxis, more commonly known as a nosebleed, is a symptom of a wide variety of mild to serious diseases, disorders and conditions.
• Nosebleeds can result from infection,inflammation, trauma, foreign body, malignancy, and other diseases and abnormal processes.
• Nosebleeds can be the result of nose picking or of a mild condition, such as a mild allergy or nasal congestion.
• They can also occur due to a moderate condition, disorder or disease, such as chronic sinusitis or due to serious or even life-threatening condition such ashypertension hemophilia and leukemia.
• Depending on the cause, nosebleeds can be short-term and disappear quickly and occur in sudden episodes.
• Diagnosing epistaxis and its root cause begins with taking a thorough personal and family medical history and looking up the nose with a rhinoscope.
• Complications of epistaxis include nausea and vomiting due to the swallowing of blood. More serious complications can include anemia, hypovolemic shock and airway obstruction.
• Immediate treatment of nosebleeds includes pinching the nose shut or using a nose clip to hold it closed until the bleeding stops.
• Nosebleeds are very common, and children between the ages of 2 and 10 and adults between 50 and 80 years seem to be most susceptible.
• Seek immediate medical care for a nosebleed that occurs after a head injury, if the nosebleed lasts longer than 30 minutes, if you are vomiting blood or having difficulty breathing, or if you experience confusion or loss of consciousness even for a brief moment.

Types of nosebleed

• Anterior nosebleed
  
  The bleeding originates from the lower nasal septum (nasal partition - the wall between the two nostrils). This part of the nose contains many delicate blood vessels that receive blood from the carotid arteries, two principal arteries in the front of the neck that supply blood to the head and neck. The slightest knock or bump can cause these vessels to bleed. Anterior nosebleeds are easily treated at home. This is likely to be the type of nosebleed seen in a child.
• Posterior nosebleed
  The bleeding originates further back and higher up the nose where artery branches supply blood to the nose, which is why it is heavier. Posterior nosebleeds are often more serious than anterior nosebleeds and may require medical attention. They are more common in adults.

What causes nosebleeds?

Listed below are the common causes of anterior and posterior nosebleeds.

Causes of anterior nosebleeds

Sometimes, the cause of anterior nosebleeds isidiopathic (unknown). However, common causes include:

• Blowing your nose hard - also blowing your nose too frequently.
• Picking the inside of your nose - especially if this is done often, if the fingernails are long, and if the inside of the nose is already irritated or tender.
• A knock or blow to the nose - could damage the delicate blood vessels of the mucous membrane.
• Sinusitis - an inflammation of the sinuses (air-filled cavities of the bone and skull surrounding the nose)
• A cold or flu - this could be for various reasons. Partly because people with colds and flu blow their nose more often - nose blowing raises the risk of nosebleeds. The inside of the nose may be irritated and tender during a vital infection, making it more susceptible to bleeding.
• Deviated septum - when the wall separating the two nostrils is off center, or deviated.
• Climate - hot climates with low humidity or changes from bitter cold to warm, dry climates can cause drying and cracking inside the nose, which can lead to a nosebleed.
• High altitude - as altitude increases, the availability of oxygen decreases, making the air thinner and drier. The dryness could cause the nose to bleed.
• Nasal allergies.
• Excessive use of certain kinds of medications, such as anticoagulants (blood thinners) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen.
• Liver disease can interfere with blood clotting and result in frequent and/or severe nosebleeds.
• Excessive use of illegal drugs, such as cocaine.

Causes of posterior nosebleeds:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Nasal surgery (surgery of the nose)
• Calcium deficiency
• Exposure to chemicals that may irritate the mucous membrane.

Posterior nosebleeds are sometimes symptoms of other conditions, such as blood diseases (e.g. leukemia or hemophilia) or tumors.

What are the risk factors for a nosebleed?

A risk factor is something that increases the chances of developing a disease or condition. For example, smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Therefore smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer.

Common risk factors for nosebleeds are:

• Infection
• Self-induced minor injuries such as picking the nose
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Alcohol abuse
• Inherited bleeding disorders
• Certain contact sports, such as martial arts, boxing, and rugby.