About 60 percent of Britons have had a nosebleed at some point in their lives. In most cases, the problem is harmless.
However, experts warn of the lesser-known signs that your nosebleed could indicate something much more serious.
Some types of nosebleeds can indicate heart disease, liver failure, and even fatal forms of blood cancer.
‘Patients come to the surgery with a nosebleed and think it’s harmless, but they can tell us there’s something else going on in the background,’ says GP Dean Eggitt, from Doncaster.
Nosebleeds that occur in the back of the nose or in both nostrils can indicate a variety of conditions, from cancer to heart problems.
According to NHS guidelines, the duration of a nosebleed is the best indicator of an underlying problem. If you bleed for more than 20 minutes, you should go to A&E.
However, Dr. Eggitt says there are additional warning signs to look out for.
For example, look at which part of the nose the blood flows from.
“If it comes out of the nose and drips down the throat, that’s a real red flag,” Dr. Eggitt said.
‘The blood vessels are larger than at the front of the nose, which means you are more likely to lose a lot of blood.
“If that’s the case, I’d be concerned about nose and throat cancer and burst blood vessels.”
If the bleeding is in the front of the nose, but in both nostrils, be careful.
This could be a sign of an underlying problem with blood clotting in the body.
According to Dr Eggitt, possible conditions can include liver failure, where the organ cannot produce proteins needed for blood to clot, a serious infection, a reaction to medications and, in the worst cases, blood cancers such as leukaemia.
According to NHS guidelines, the best way to stop a nosebleed is to lean forward and pinch the tip of your nose closed for 15 minutes.
Leukemia can lead to a decrease in the number of platelets (platelets that help blood clot) and therefore to heavy bleeding.
“I would also look for bruising on the body,” Dr. Eggitt says.
Bleeding in both nostrils can also be a sign of heart disease. “If you have high blood pressure, your arteries are narrow, so you’re at risk of a blood vessel in your nose rupturing, for example,” says Dr. Eggitt.
“This is an indicator that you are at high risk for heart attacks and strokes.”
He adds that some blood-thinning medications given to prevent heart attacks and strokes, such as clopidogrel and warfarin, can also cause bleeding in the nasal cavity.
The most common and normal form of nosebleed is a bleed that occurs in one nostril, with the bleeding coming from the tip of the nose.
This is an area of the nose known as Little’s area. It contains small, very delicate blood vessels that are vulnerable to rupture.
“It’s the part of the nose that kids tend to dig in, so it’s not uncommon to get an injury,” Dr. Eggitt says. “But it would be unusual to get an injury from blowing too hard or fidgeting on either side.”
To stop a nosebleed, the NHS advises leaning forward with your head tilted and your mouth open and pinching the soft part of your nose, just above your nostril, for 10-15 minutes.
Breathe through your mouth and spit out any blood that collects in your mouth into a bowl.
If the bleeding has not stopped after 20 minutes, seek assistance.
