Often there is blood from the nose: causes, types and treatment

If a person often has blood from the nose, the reason, most likely, lies in the presence of any pathology. You can’t ignore what happens regularly - you need to figure out why this happens and take steps to eliminate the problem.

Now we will talk about the reasons why nosebleeds most often occur, as well as how to stop this.

Briefly about pathology

I would like to start by considering this phenomenon as a disease. If a person often has blood from the nose, the reasons lie in the developmental abnormality. What is it characterized by? The outflow of blood from the vessels of the nasal cavity. In medical language, this is called epistaxis.

The danger of this condition is large blood loss. This seriously threatens health and life. According to statistics, approximately 20% of people who have experienced this condition turn to specialists for emergency assistance. And in 80-85% of the victims, problems related to the hemostatic system are identified as a result.

It should also be noted that in 85% of patients, epistaxis is a symptom indicating a disease. In about 15% of cases, the cause is a pathology of the nasal cavity.

Classification

Before figuring out why the nose often bleeds, you need to pay a little attention to the classification. Types of epistaxis are determined by profusion. There are three hemorrhages:

• Insignificant. The volume of blood lost is a few milliliters. It flows, as a rule, from only one nostril. Stops fast. Of the consequences - fear, discomfort and confusion.
• Moderate. Losses can reach 300 ml. As a result, a person feels weakness in the body, sees "flies" in front of his eyes, feels thirst. The pulse quickens, the skin turns pale, shortness of breath appears, a hum in the ears. In general, the condition can be described as bad.
• Profuse (strong, massive). Very life threatening. Blood loss exceeds 300 ml. Medicine knows cases when the volume exceeded 1 liter. As a result, loss of consciousness, hemorrhagic shock, low blood pressure may occur. In organs, blood circulation is weakened.

It should also be noted that the epistaxis can be anterior and posterior. In the first case, the blood comes out through the nostrils. In the second, it descends along the nasopharynx, along the back wall. These cases are the most dangerous. Posterior epistaxis can only be stopped with the help of doctors.

Environmental impact

Now we can talk about the reasons why blood often comes from the nose. Often this happens due to the negative impact of the environment. Here are the conditions that can lead to this pathology:

• Prolonged exposure to dry air. If a person inhales it for several hours, then its mucous membrane will dry out and eventually stick together with small vessels. They, in turn, will also become brittle and weak.
• Long-term use of vasoconstrictor, antihistamines, corticosteroids, as well as blood thinners.
• Heat or sunstroke, which leads to overheating of the body. Before nosebleeds, weakness, nausea, fainting, and humming in the ears occur.
• Severe cough and persistent sneezing. Because of this, the pressure in the vessels of the nose rises, and blood can go.
• Intoxication due to inhalation of gases, harmful fumes and aerosol products. Also, the cause may be a chemical, thermal or electric burn of the mucous membrane, as well as a long exposure to radiation on the body.
• Excessive exercise.
• Differential atmospheric pressure.

But, of course, far from every person begins nosebleeds, even under the conditions listed. If the body is strong enough, and the vessels are strong, then such a consequence may not be.

Common reasons

Continuing to talk about why the nose often bleeds, you need to talk about the anxiety conditions that this symptom may indicate. They are also the so-called common causes of epistaxis. The following list can be distinguished:

• Degenerative processes occurring in the walls of blood vessels and their thinning. This can occur due to vasculitis, infectious pathologies, atherosclerosis, and also due to a lack of vitamin C, potassium and calcium.
• Hormonal instability. This happens during menopause, pregnancy, and even in adolescence.
• Blood pathology. This can be hepatitis, hemophilia, leukemia, cirrhosis, hemostasis and aplastic anemia. Another reason is often insufficient platelet production. This is also called thrombocytopenic purpura.
• High blood pressure. This is a very multifaceted symptom that can indicate a number of diseases. Among them: atherosclerosis, hypertension, kidney and lung disease, aortic mitral valve stenosis, emotional exhaustion, heart abnormalities, adrenal cancer, overwork.

And these are only the most famous reasons. Why does nosebleed often come? Because a person can also have migraines, mental disorders, regular tamponade, etc. If you study the complete list, you can conclude that almost any pathological condition can lead to mucosal atrophy.

Local reasons

It is also necessary to talk about them. Why does nosebleed often come? The reasons can also be local, and distinguish them in such a list:

• Injuries. They arise as a result of a fall, shock, diagnostic measures, surgical interventions. Often, the vessels and cartilage tissues of the nasal cavity that cause bleeding are injured because of the above.
• Pathology of ENT organs. These include sinusitis, rhinitis, adenoids and sinusitis. Very often, bleeding begins due to the uncontrolled use of hormonal and vasoconstrictor drugs indicated for the treatment of these conditions.
• Anomalies in the development of the olfactory organ. This refers to mucosal degeneration, congenital pathology of arteries and veins, as well as the curvature of the nasal septum and too close the location of blood vessels to the surface.
• Foreign bodies. Often bleeding occurs due to helminth infections, careless hygiene, and even small objects or insects getting into the nasal cavity.
• Neoplasms. It can be cancer, benign tumor, polyps, angiomas, granulomas and adenoids.

In general, only a doctor can determine why an adult often bleeds nose. And then, after a diagnosis, which will help identify the prerequisites.

Causes in children

Bleeding in a child can occur for any of the listed reasons. It does not depend on age.

But, nevertheless, most often in children the nose goes bleeding due to the fact that they themselves injure the mucous membrane, picking their nose. Parents should take care of this so that then there is no unpleasant consequence, because of which they and the child themselves are afraid.

First aid

So, above it was described in detail about the reasons why blood from the nose very often comes. Now you should study the principles of first aid in this condition.

The head needs to be tilted forward. The respiratory canal is tightly “blocked” with a folded piece of gauze or bandage soaked in a 3% peroxide solution. Never tilt your head back. Because of this, blood pressure drops, dizziness intensifies, which leads to fainting. Even in this position, a person reflexively swallows a stream of blood. This is bad, since it, reaching the stomach, provokes vomiting.

Next steps

Then you need to apply cold to the bridge of the nose. A napkin moistened with cold water or an ice bubble will do. It is necessary to pinch the wings of the nose - if the state of a person allows, he can do it himself, without help.

If the bleeding does not stop, or even intensifies, you need to call a medical ambulance. Prior to her arrival, blood pressure and temperature must be measured.

In the event that doctors describe the person’s condition as at least moderate, then he will be hospitalized in the intensive care unit.

Diagnostics

The course of the examination that the patient expects to undergo depends on the reason why the nose is bleeding very often. In any case, a visual examination is performed, as well as x-rays and MRI of the sinuses and nose.

Such events may also be prescribed, depending on the suspected cause:

• Hypertension: examination of the kidneys and daily monitoring of blood pressure.
• Vitamin deficiency or hypovitaminosis: a blood test.
• Increased intracranial pressure: fundus examination, duplex scanning of the brachiocephalic arteries, brain MRI, examination by a neurologist.
• Blood coagulation disorders: consultation with a hematologist, coagulation.
• Allergy: examination by an immunologist or allergist, conducting tests, analysis for class E immunoglobulins
• Liver diseases: blood test for bilirubin and aminotransferase, ultrasound.
• Hormonal disorders: analysis for sex hormones and those that produce the thyroid gland.
• Leukemia: examination by an oncologist and hematologist, biochemical analysis, myelogram, bone marrow punctate examination.
• Heart failure: stress echocardiography, ultrasound, ECG and Holter monitoring.

What kind of procedures a person will have to go through depends on the results of the initial examination. It may take several measures, but it will be possible to find out exactly why the nose often bleeds.

Surgical intervention

So, earlier it was explained for what reasons the nose often bleeds in a child and in adults (the prerequisites do not depend on the patient's age). Now it's time to talk about methods to stop this phenomenon.

In 10% of cases, surgery is indicated. There are such types of interventions:

• Cauterization of a damaged vessel. For this, a cotton swab moistened with silver nitrate is used.
• Coagulation. It is indicated in severe cases.
• Cartilage resection and local mucosal intervention.
• Cryotherapy. In some cases, you can simply freeze the damaged area with liquid nitrogen.

Operations are carried out by modern methods, and do not yet require a long recovery. But most importantly, they provide a guaranteed result.

Principles of Therapy

If nosebleeds often come, what should I do? The answer to this question will be given by the doctor after the examination. Treatment depends only on the root cause. Here are some treatment options:

• In inflammatory diseases and rhinitis, vasoconstrictors and aerosols are prescribed.
• If a person has damaged the nasal septum with chemicals, then first the damaging factor is eliminated. Then the patient is prescribed a diet and products containing vitamins E and A. They contribute to the restoration of blood vessels and rapid healing.
• When identifying a systemic disease that provokes bleeding from the nose, complex treatment is prescribed.
• When the cause is a long intake of blood-thinning drugs, the main condition for healing is the revision of therapy, involving the use of these funds.

In general, everything is very individual here. However, in many cases, if the patient often has blood from the nose, treatment involves the use of vitamin C in large quantities, gluconate and calcium chloride, as well as the drug "Vikasol."

Prevention

In order not to deal with nosebleeds, you need to remember simple rules that can help avoid this. Here are some simple guidelines:

• An adequate level of humidity must be maintained at home and in the workplace.
• Do not abuse nasal drops.
• If you have to be in the cold for a long time, it is better to cover your nose with a scarf.
• It is worth practicing a contrast shower and washing (this will help strengthen the vessels).
• You should often walk in the fresh air.
• You need to play sports at least several times a week.
• It is necessary to eat properly, diversify the diet with products containing vitamins K, P and C. The main sources are green vegetables and fruits, citruses, nuts, greens, etc.

And if the previous bleeding was caused by health problems, then it is also necessary to adhere to all medical recommendations regarding the treatment of the underlying disease.