7 Things That May Be Causing Your Recurring Nosebleeds

Embarrassing, annoying, and sometimes frightening, unexpected nosebleeds become problematic when they keep happening.

If they occur during a business presentation, it is humiliating, and you can be sure someone will ask if you know the reason. If you don’t have a good answer, here are 7 things that may help determine what’s causing your recurring nosebleeds.

Your Nose Is Dry Due to Cold Weather

When it’s cold outside, the air is dry. This situation calls for dry air heaters in our cars and homes to stay warm, but a dry nose tends to bleed due to the vascular nature of the inside of the nose. It will crack when dry just like our skin. Winter weather exacerbates this dryness, making it the most common reason for nosebleeds.

The best cure is to have humidifiers in the home, stay hydrated, and use petroleum jelly to soften and moisturize the lining of the nose.

Living in a Dry Climate and Traveling Frequently

This is another double whammy for recurring nosebleeds. Areas in the country where the humidity is consistently low dries out the inside of the nose and can cause recurring nosebleeds.

Traveling on a airplane with its dry air does not help the situation. In both cases you have little control other than to keep your nose moist with a humidifier, steam, or a moist nasal spray.

Picking

Children are more prone to having a nose picking habit, but adults can also quickly find themselves doing it when their nose is irritated and feels dry. If this is the case with children, clip their nails and spend some time discussing why it’s not only unhealthy, but can make their nose bleed. If you are an adult, just practice some self-control and quit making matters worse for yourself.

Medications

Antihistamines, decongestants, prescriptions for sinus infections, and nasal sprays for allergies can all dry out the nose and lead to nosebleeds. If you take aspirin for pain, or after a heart attack, this can also lead to sudden nosebleeds as it causes your blood to become more thin and prone to bleeding.

A Deviated Septum

Many  people live with a deviated septum. This is a structural issue inside the nose with a bend in the septum, or in the wall in the middle of the nose.  When air enters the nose, it can end up in unusual areas of the nose that make them especially dry.

Blowing Your Nose

Blowing your nose frequently and too strenuously when you are congested can cause pressure in the nose that may lead to a nosebleed.

Breathing Unhealthy Chemicals

If you have an occupation where you breathe certain unhealthy chemicals every day, it can cause damage to the lining of the nose and recurring nosebleeds. In this case you might consider changing jobs.

When to Be Concerned

Some nosebleeds can be more serious than others. If the bleeding is coming from the large blood vessels in the back of the nose, this is cause for concern. It you have sustained an injury or other serious trauma to the nose, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Seek medical help for a nosebleed if the person has high blood pressure, is elderly, and/or takes aspirin. A general rule of thumb is that if any nosebleed lasts for more than 20 minutes, you should seek professional treatment.