Other, less common causes include injuries, inflammation from colds, allergies or drug use such as cocaine and alcohol. Kids may stick small objects up the nose. Older people may have other health problems such as kidney disease, high blood pressure and blood clotting disorders, or they may be taking drugs like aspirin, NSAID’s or warfarin that interfere with blood clotting. The cause of nosebleeds often can’t be determined.

Why is the nose prone to bleeding?

Blame it on anatomy. The nose has many blood vessels in it to help warm and humidify the air you breathe. These vessels lie close to the surface, making them easy to injure.

Are nosebleeds serious?

Most aren’t. Most nosebleeds occur in the front part of the nose and stop in a few minutes. A few nosebleeds stem from large vessels in the back of the nose. These nosebleeds can be dangerous. They may occur after an injury. This type of nosebleed is more common in the elderly and is often due to high blood pressure, kidney disease, daily aspirin use or bleeding disorders. Usually, the older the patient, the more serious the nosebleed.

You’ll need to get medical attention if a nosebleed goes on for more than 15 minutes or if it occurs after an injury, such as a punch in the face, especially if you think you may have a broken nose. A nosebleed after a fall or a car wreck could be a sign of internal bleeding. Frequent nosebleeds may mean you have a more serious problem. For example, nosebleeds and bruising can be early signs of leukemia. Nosebleeds can also be a sign of blood clotting disorders and nasal tumors (cancerous and non-cancerous).

What should I do when I get a nosebleed?

A nosebleed can be scary to get -or see- but try to stay calm. Most nosebleeds look much worse than they really are. Almost all nosebleeds can be treated at home with simple first aid measures.

If you get a nosebleed, sit down and lean slightly forward. Keeping your head above your heart will make your nose bleed less. Lean forward so the blood will drain out of your nose instead of down the back of your throat. If you lean back, you may swallow the blood. This can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.