Nosebleeds, or epistaxis, can be caused by the rupture of blood vessels in the nasal septum. High blood pressure and anticoagulant medications can increase the risk of nosebleeds. Remedies include applying an ice pack and pinching the nose, but severe cases may require external pressure or cauterization.
Nosebleeds are known in medical terms as epistaxis and are a relatively common condition that can affect both children and adults. This type of bleeding occurs when the delicate blood vessels in the nasal septum rupture; the nasal septum is the thin dividing tissue inside the nose. When the blood vessels in the front area of the nose break, it is an anterior nosebleed, and when the blood vessels in the back of the nose are damaged, it is a posterior nosebleed. While anterior nosebleeds, the less serious of the two, can be caused by a variety of climatic and physical reasons, there appears to be a definite connection between posterior nosebleeds and blood pressure.
In case of high blood pressure, the blood vessels in the nasal septum are subjected to greater stress and are therefore more likely to rupture. Another causal factor linking nosebleeds and blood pressure is a condition called atherosclerosis. This condition is often seen in people suffering from high blood pressure and causes the walls of blood vessels to harden. When blood vessel walls harden, they can rupture with blood pressure and thus the result is a bloody nose. There is also a connection between nosebleeds and blood pressure medications such as aspirin and warfarin; these drugs are anticoagulants and thin the blood, hindering the clotting process and therefore making it difficult to stop the bleeding once it has started.
A common remedy to treat a nosebleed is to apply an ice pack to the nose. Another helpful remedy is to lean forward so that there is no possibility of blood flow backwards and pinch the tip of the nose for several minutes until the bleeding stops. If the bleeding still continues after this, it is imperative to see a doctor.
Unlike anterior nosebleeds, high blood pressure-related bleeding from the posterior area can be quite difficult to stem. In some extreme cases where the nosebleed shows no signs of subsiding, it may be necessary to apply external pressure to the ruptured blood vessels or cauterize them to stop the bleeding. External pressure can be applied by taping the nose, and cauterization can be done by laser or electrical treatment. People with recurrent bouts of nosebleeds may be advised to get their current medications reevaluated and perhaps switch to those that are less likely to cause such severe side effects.
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