CONDITIONS
Nosebleeds
Nosebleeds, which are medically referred to as epistaxis, happen easily due to the proximity of the blood vessels in your nose's lining to the environment. A nosebleed occurs when tissue that lines your nose leaks blood due to dry air, allergies, sinusitis, and the use of blood-thinning medications such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.
Symptoms
- Bloody discharge from one or both nostrils
- Fluid at the back of the throat
Associated causes
When you are at a higher altitude, the air becomes thinner due to a lack of oxygen and increases the risk of a bleeding nose. In addition, a deviated septum that causes an abnormality in the wall that separates the nostrils also contributes to frequent nosebleeds.
Other potential causes include:
- Nose picking
- Breathing in strong, hazardous chemicals
- Facial trauma with direct impact on the nose
- Increased use of nasal sprays and other medicines (decongestants and antihistamines) to relieve an itchy, stuffy or runny nose
- Cold
Although rare, the following conditions could be the cause of frequent nosebleeds:
- Tumours in the nose
- Hypertension
- Nasal surgery
When to seek treatment
You need to see your ENT specialist when you experience heavy bleeding from the nose or bleeding that lasts over thirty minutes even after applying pressure.
Treatment for nosebleeds
There are non-surgical treatments for nosebleeds, including applying ice packs, pinching your nose for at least five minutes, and using a prescribed decongestant nasal spray.
A nasal endoscopy is the procedure used to diagnose a nose bleed and determine where the bleeding is coming from.
Nasal cautery is a surgical procedure that Dr Cezula performs to seal leaky blood vessels from the inside of your nose. Immediately, scar tissue forms to prevent any further leakage.
Dr Cezula can use cautery to seal the leaking vessels in the rooms, if that doesn't work she may need to do the cautery in theater
FAQ
How do you diagnose nosebleeds?
Nosebleeds may be a sign of nose (local) conditions or conditions related to other parts of the body (systemic).
A diagnostic test is direct vision using nasal endoscopy, which is a less invasive means of inspecting the inside of your nose, providing an optimal view of the site of bleeding, ruling out a growth as a cause. This can ensure that treatment is focused on the specific cause.
Frequent nosebleeds and bruising in areas of the body are signs of a concerning blood clotting disorder such as Hemophilia and von Willebrand disease. High blood pressure and kidney failure may also present with nose bleeds.
A full blood count may be necessary to estimate the amount of bleeding and confirm or rule out blood disorders. A partial thromboplastin time (PTT) and international normalised ratio (INR) are tests that evaluate the time it takes for your blood to clot, as a disorder of this kind may lead to nosebleeds.
Is nasal dryness a symptom of Covid?
Nasal congestion is one of the signs of Covid-19.
Are nosebleeds a sign of cancer?
Frequent nosebleeds could be a sign of a severe blood clotting disorder or blood cancers like leukaemia. Sometimes benign or cancerous nasal tumours may form, causing frequent nosebleeds.