Nose bleeding could signal danger

By Joyce Gathu
Having a nose bleed is ghastly, more so because of the bloody sight.
Studies have shown that about 50 per cent of people will experience nose bleeding. However, the causes of most of these incidences go unexplained.

Among those that can be explained occur in people suffering from conditions like a common cold or flu.
Purity Mwangi falls in this category. “I nose bled once because I had a running nose and that was five years ago. It has never happened again,” says Purity.

Dr Eric Kesenwa, a general physician in Nairobi, explains that every inch inside the nose is layered with blood vessels, which is also on the surface aiding the sense of smell.

“These vessels break easily whenever we sneeze or blow our nose with vigour. When people have a cold, they tend to blow their nose frequently, which can also rapture the vessels, causing nose bleeding,” explains Dr Kesenwa.
The blood vessels in our noses are so superficial, that even picking your nose can provoke a nosebleed.
There are also people who nose bleed when it is hot.

“When it is hot, the blood vessels that are already near the surface dilate or expand to get rid of excessive heat. This, too, can cause nose bleeding,” explains Dr Henry Nderitu, a general physician in Nairobi.
This also applies to people suffering from malaria, which causes fever. The blood vessels consequently, move closer to the surface to get rid of excess heat.

Although the above explained causes of nose bleeding need not raise alarm, sometimes a nose bleed can be an indicator of an underlying health problem.
“There are two main explanations for nose bleeding: It can indicate to a health issue that is either local or systemic,” says Dr Kesenwa.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Verkooijen plans to resolve leadership, financial woes at UoN
• 
  How Kasongo came alive, four years after song composer died
• 
  Ruto's grand plan to address University of Nairobi woes
• 
  Sonko to appear in court for fresh trial in Sh20m graft case

By local, it means that the problem is around the nostril, while systemic means it’s spread beyond the nasal area.
A systemic disease is one that affects most, if not, all of the body organ systems simultaneously.
When nose bleeding is an indication of a systemic problem, it could be due to an upper respiratory infection such as a cold or flu.

“Nose bleeding associated with flu usually resolves itself and there is no cause for concern,” says Dr Nderitu.
In instances where the cause is around the nostril, it could be as a result of a physical blow that raptures the blood vessels in the nose.
“Nose bleeding could also be a symptom of an even more serious issue such as a tumour in the nose.
But there are times when it simply reveals that the blood vessels in the nose are weak,” cautions Dr Kesenwa.
There are times, however, when the cause of nose bleeding should not be easily dismissed.
“There are people who nosebleed because they have high blood pressure. This condition increases pressure in the blood vessels within the nose, causing them to rapture. It can be rectified if the patient is put under medication to control high blood pressure,” explains Dr Kesenwa.

It is for this reason, that a patient with frequent incidences of nose bleeding is put through a blood pressure level test.
“Testing a patient for high blood pressure when they present incidences of nose bleeding helps narrow down on the possible problem,” says Dr Nderitu
But, even in people with high blood pressure, nose bleeding is often accompanied by other symptoms such as headaches and dizziness.

It is, however, important to know that not all people who have high blood pressure will suffer from nose bleeding.
Further, Dr Kesenwa emphasises on the fact that nose bleeding once in a while, like once in two months should not cause alarm.

“But if it is frequent and the cause cannot be explained, one should seek a medical opinion.
If the cause is a result of a physical blow, like resulting from a fight, then one should avoid violent incidences because the cause and the solution in this case is clear.

Although uncommon, there are instances when a person nose bleeds uncontrollably. Such excessive bleeding call for urgent medical attention where a vitamin K injection is administered to help with blood clotting and to stop the bleeding.