• Question: What causes nosebleeds

    Asked by samfe2310 to Dalya, Derek, Sarah, Tim, Tom on 19 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by aishasabir.
    • Photo: Tim Millar

      Tim Millar answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      The blood vessels in the nose breaking and letting out the blood. Eventually the blood clots through the process of coagulation, a complex series of event using proteins and enzymes and cells to block the hole in the blood vessel.

    • Photo: Derek McKay-Bukowski

      Derek McKay-Bukowski answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      As Tim says it is because of blood vessels breaking. They are more likely to do this inside the nose, as there isn’t a thick protective layer of skin to guard them.

    • Photo: Dalya Soond

      Dalya Soond answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      As the boys explained.
      Nose bleeds can occur in dry weather (the membranes in your nose shrink through dehydration), after injury to the face, after changes in pressure. If you have problems with your clotting factor or are on drugs sucha s warfarin, you will bleed more easily including from your nose.
      And there is also a genetic disease I know of in which the blood vessels have patchy bits because the cells don’t cling well to each other. My uncle has this disease (whose name I have forgotten) and hemorhages 3/4 of his body’s blood through his nose several times a year. It is quite freaky to watch, needless to say.

    • Photo: Sarah Thomas

      Sarah Thomas answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      There are two types of nose bleeds: anterior and posterior.

      Anterior Nose Bleeds:

      If you have an anterior nosebleed, the bleeding comes from the lower septum (the wall between the two nose channels), just inside your nose. This part of the nose has a lot of delicate blood vessels inside it. These delicate blood vessels are easily damaged and if they are knocked they will begin bleeding.

      Common causes of anterior nose bleeds:

      – picking your nose
      – minor injury
      – blowing your nose very hard
      – colds and flu
      – a blocked nose
      – allergies
      – altitude
      – a dry nose

      Posterior Nose Bleeds:

      A posterior nosebleed is where the bleeding is heavy and comes from further back, and higher up your nose. During posterior nosebleeds, the bleeding originates from branches of the arteries which supply blood to your nasal cavity (the space inside your nose between the roof of your mouth and your brain). This type of nose bleed can be serious.

      Common causes of posterior nose bleeds:

      – recent nasal surgery
      – high blood pressure
      – calcium deficency
      – hardening of the arteries (causes by fatty deposits)
      – exposure to irritation chemicals
      – blood thining medicines
      – a tumour in the nasal cavity
      – leukemia

    • Photo: Tom Crick

      Tom Crick answered on 19 Jun 2011:

      Already answered well by the rest of Team Chromium.

      I used to have nosebleeds when I was a kid, I’d wake up in the night bleeding everywhere (obviously my Mum loved this). If you are having regular nosebleeds, you should definitely get it checked out by a doctor.

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