$Unique_ID{BRK01281}
$Pretitle{Respiratory System}
$Title{What May be Causing Frequent Nosebleeds?}
$Subject{nosebleed cause treatment}
$Volume{H-6}
$Log{
Hypertension*0009601.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What May be Causing Frequent Nosebleeds?


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QUESTION:  I suffer from frequent nosebleeds which always arrive at the worst
time.  There is never any warning, nor is it the result of a bang or blowing
my nose.  Any ideas on what may be causing them?

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ANSWER:  There are many causes of nosebleeds (epistaxis) and although some of
them sound quite serious and well may be, the most frequent reasons for
nosebleeds are relatively simple.  Nosebleeds can occur because of infections
in the nose, such as rhinitis and sinusitis and can be provoked by infections
in the body including scarlet fever, malaria and typhoid fever.  Hypertension
with its elevated blood pressures is a leading cause of nosebleeds and then
there's a whole list of blood diseases which reduce the ability of the blood
to coagulate, thus permitting nosebleeds to occur with just the minimum of
trauma.  Severe epistaxis is often associated with liver disease and the
underlying cause must be treated if the nosebleeds are to cease.  Most nasal
bleeding arises in a group of blood vessels which are on the lower front part
of the partition that divides our nose in half (the septum).  This area is
called Kiesselbach's area and most bleeding may be controlled by pinching the
sides of the nose against the septum in the middle and holding them tightly in
place for from five to ten minutes.  If this is not successful, then the
bleeding site must be found and controlled by electrocautery or chemical
cautery using silver nitrate.
     Bleeding can also be provoked by the changes in temperature and humidity
that we experience as we move from indoors to outdoors, particularly in cold
weather.
     But the bottom line is that most nosebleeds are provoked by picking away
at the nose with a finger or other blunt instrument.  Some people are so
caught up in this habit that they are unaware that they have provoked
nosebleeds themselves and it takes a member of the family or a friendly
neighbor to point this fact out to them.  Should nosebleeds be very frequent
and difficult to control, your physician's physical examination may hold some
personal answers for you.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
