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What Causes Frequent Nasal Bleeding?
Question: My 14 year old athletic, healthy daughter has low blood pressure.....get frequent nose bleeds....last night it ran out quite freely....has had several at school since the beginning of school year....gets dizzy at times including at basketball practice....and just woke up saying her hand is asleep and she was trying to "wake it up". What to do?
Brief Answer:
Not unusual to have a hand or foot feel heavy and numb temporarily.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Is her hand still asleep? It can happen depending on sleeping positions for a hand or foot to feel numb and like it has "pins and needles" (paresthesia). It usually resolves in a short time. Is it still occurring?
Not unusual to have a hand or foot feel heavy and numb temporarily.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Is her hand still asleep? It can happen depending on sleeping positions for a hand or foot to feel numb and like it has "pins and needles" (paresthesia). It usually resolves in a short time. Is it still occurring?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I really wasn't asking what to do about her hand being asleep. It took a little time to wake it up. I wonder if she should be medicated for low blood pressure based on the general scene I gave you. And if that is ok at 14? She just made the team and gets dizzy when playing on some days. She gets dizzy at other times of the day too. Every day
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Sorry - I misunderstood.
It is not uncommon for adolescent girls and young women, particularly if they are tall and thin, to have low blood pressure.
If it is interfering with her activities, she should have an evaluation for it. This would start with her going to the doctor and for her to have orthostatic blood pressure and pulse checked. This is done by having her lay down on her back and having the BP and pulse, checked, then again when sitting, and then when standing. A significant drop in blood pressure and rise in pulse, from sitting to standing defines orthostatic hypotension. If she has orthostatic hypotension, a tilt table test can help provide more information.
If she has orthostatic hypotension and if there are no medical causes at the root of her problem, then salt tablets, and sometimes fludrocortisone can be used. This is a mineral corticosteroid and if used, her potassium level should be monitored.
Now if she doesn't have orthostatic hypotension, but rather has hypotension at all times, blood work is important. Check fasting blood sugar to make sure she isn't getting hypoglycemic, TSH to check thyroid function, and a CBC to evaluate for possible anemia. An EKG should be done too, to make sure there isn't a heart rhythm problem or other abnormality.
So if the low blood pressure is giving her symptoms, then further evaluation is needed. I hope this helps to get her started. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Sorry - I misunderstood.
It is not uncommon for adolescent girls and young women, particularly if they are tall and thin, to have low blood pressure.
If it is interfering with her activities, she should have an evaluation for it. This would start with her going to the doctor and for her to have orthostatic blood pressure and pulse checked. This is done by having her lay down on her back and having the BP and pulse, checked, then again when sitting, and then when standing. A significant drop in blood pressure and rise in pulse, from sitting to standing defines orthostatic hypotension. If she has orthostatic hypotension, a tilt table test can help provide more information.
If she has orthostatic hypotension and if there are no medical causes at the root of her problem, then salt tablets, and sometimes fludrocortisone can be used. This is a mineral corticosteroid and if used, her potassium level should be monitored.
Now if she doesn't have orthostatic hypotension, but rather has hypotension at all times, blood work is important. Check fasting blood sugar to make sure she isn't getting hypoglycemic, TSH to check thyroid function, and a CBC to evaluate for possible anemia. An EKG should be done too, to make sure there isn't a heart rhythm problem or other abnormality.
So if the low blood pressure is giving her symptoms, then further evaluation is needed. I hope this helps to get her started. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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