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Nosebleeds
Category: Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat · All head & senses symptoms
What it can feel like
A nosebleed is bleeding from the delicate blood vessels inside the nose, usually from the front part of the septum. Most stop with simple first aid — sit up, lean forward, pinch the soft part of the nose for 10–15 minutes. Bleeds that will not stop, or keep recurring, need assessment.
Possible causes
A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.
Common causes
Nosebleeds can be associated with dry air, nose blowing and picking, colds and hay fever, nasal sprays used incorrectly, and minor knocks. They are more frequent in children and older adults.
Other possible causes
Recurrent or heavy nosebleeds can be associated with blood-thinning medicines, high blood pressure during the bleed (usually a result rather than the cause), blood clotting problems, and occasionally growths inside the nose — particularly one-sided recurrent bleeds.
Red flags — when to seek help promptly
- A nosebleed that continues after 20–30 minutes of correct pressure
- Bleeding down the back of the throat, or vomiting swallowed blood
- Nosebleeds that recur frequently, especially one-sided
- Nosebleeds with easy bruising or bleeding elsewhere
- A nosebleed after a significant head injury
What a clinician may do
A clinician will assess blood loss, look inside the nose for the bleeding point, and check blood pressure. Treatment escalates from pressure and cautery of a visible vessel to nasal packing; blood tests (count and clotting) follow for recurrent or heavy bleeds, and a review of blood thinners is standard.
Watch: related videos
Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.
Related guides on MedicalVideos.com
Frequently asked questions
Why lean forward and not back?
Leaning forward keeps blood out of the throat and stomach (swallowed blood causes vomiting) and lets you see whether bleeding is stopping. Pinching the soft part — not the bony bridge — compresses the vessels that cause most bleeds.
Do nosebleeds mean my blood pressure is high?
Usually not — pressure often rises because of the stress of bleeding rather than causing it. Blood pressure is checked and managed, but the bleeding point itself, dryness and medicines are the usual drivers.
Related symptoms — Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat
Browse the N section of the A–Z list or return to the Symptoms A–Z hub.