By Dr. Shashidhar, Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT)
Nosebleeds can indeed be frightening. But with the right care and it being provided at the right time, this condition can be taken care of without you having to go through all the hassles and the tension involved in it. There are two types of nosebleeds:
- Anterior Nosebleed, wherein blood comes out from the front of the nose; usually of a blood vessel rupture. This can easy be controlled.
- Posterior Nosebleed, wherein blood oozes out from the blood vessels at the back of the nose. This happens more with the elderly and tend to grow in severity if not treated by a medical professional, otolaryngologist at the right time.
Nosebleeds mostly occur in dry and cold climatic conditions, more frequently with children in the age group of 2 to 10 years and adults aged between 50 to 80 years.
Signs and Symptoms-
- Generally, the bleeding happens through either of the nostrils, but in case of excessive blood flow, it can ooze out from both the nostrils as well.
- Blood can trickle back into the throat and to the stomach, causing the person to vomit or spit blood.
- Dizziness, confusion, fainting or lightheadedness.
- Further bleeding from other parts of the body, such as through the urine or in the gums may be an indication of the inability of the blood to clot.
Causes-
- Trauma to the nose can be responsible for nose bleeds.
- A hard blow to the face, irritation from cold or repeated nose picking can be responsible factors as well.
- Problems in blood coagulation or intake of blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin or warfarin can also trigger this condition.
- Cancer, especially in the mouth or the throat, or a rupture in blood vessels can lead to this disorder as well.
- In rare cases, a high blood pressure count can be the reason behind nose bleeds.
With proper diagnosis and treatment, nose-bleeds can heal without any long-term adverse impact on your body.