Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Frequent Nose Bleeds?
Question: Hello,
About a week ago I got a very bad nosebleed, although it stopped after about ten minutes -- it was really streaming down. Since then, I've re-aggravated the bleed a few times, due to touching the nose, entering a steam room, etc. Usually when I restarted the nosebleed it ended very quickly. What's more worrisome to me is that I continue to spit up blood, an occurrence that usually takes place in the morning. It is never the the first thing I spit up -- I've always been someone who spits up a lot of phlegm, chronically -- but usually the third our fourth spit I take in the morning is bloody, and then after one or two more bloody spits it returns to being normal phlegm.
At first I thought it was related to the nosebleed, but I don't believe so anymore, because it hasn't been aggravated in two days, and just this morning I spat up blood, too. Another thing to consider -- at night, when I sleep on one side, the opposite side of my head, near my temple, feels a lot of pressure. If I switch sides, the pain moves to the side of my head that is not on my pillow I've had a history of sinus-related issues, and the pain seems to correlate to what I felt then -- pain behind eye, pressure on temple, etc. Throughout the day I sometimes notice these sort of pains, as well, but they are minor enough (again, during the day) that they haven't posed a problem.
Other than the blood, I feel altogether healthy, exercised rigorously yesterday on the treadmill which felt good, sleeping fairly well, eating well, etc. I'm just afraid I have a tumor or something, and don't know how serious bloody spit is. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
(Please find picture of bloody phlegm from this morning attached)
About a week ago I got a very bad nosebleed, although it stopped after about ten minutes -- it was really streaming down. Since then, I've re-aggravated the bleed a few times, due to touching the nose, entering a steam room, etc. Usually when I restarted the nosebleed it ended very quickly. What's more worrisome to me is that I continue to spit up blood, an occurrence that usually takes place in the morning. It is never the the first thing I spit up -- I've always been someone who spits up a lot of phlegm, chronically -- but usually the third our fourth spit I take in the morning is bloody, and then after one or two more bloody spits it returns to being normal phlegm.
At first I thought it was related to the nosebleed, but I don't believe so anymore, because it hasn't been aggravated in two days, and just this morning I spat up blood, too. Another thing to consider -- at night, when I sleep on one side, the opposite side of my head, near my temple, feels a lot of pressure. If I switch sides, the pain moves to the side of my head that is not on my pillow I've had a history of sinus-related issues, and the pain seems to correlate to what I felt then -- pain behind eye, pressure on temple, etc. Throughout the day I sometimes notice these sort of pains, as well, but they are minor enough (again, during the day) that they haven't posed a problem.
Other than the blood, I feel altogether healthy, exercised rigorously yesterday on the treadmill which felt good, sleeping fairly well, eating well, etc. I'm just afraid I have a tumor or something, and don't know how serious bloody spit is. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
(Please find picture of bloody phlegm from this morning attached)
Brief Answer:
Dryness of the nose and sinusitis...
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for posting the query and an elaborate history. I will try my best to help you with this problem.
First of all, I would like to reassure you that, there are no symptoms of tumour as per the history described by you.
1. The bleeding from the nose in your case is because of dryness of the nose and sinusitis. The front of the nose is richly supplied with blood. This is the area which gets exposed to the outer atmosphere very frequently. So, during dryness of the skin or the mucosa, it breaks and the blood oozes out. The same applies while touching the nose; the supple skin cracks and bleeding starts.
2. Secondly, you have rightly diagnosed the cause of your headache as sinusitis.
3. Do not worry! The treatment for both these conditions are same.
4. My suggestions to you are:
a. Drink plenty of warm water
b. Use saline nasal spray and saline nasal ointment as frequently as possible. This prevents the dryness of the nose and thus the bleeding.
c. Do steam inhalation regularly. Steam reduces the edema inside the nasal cavity and sinuses and helps in effective clearing of the sinus secretions.
d. Avoid chilled food & beverages/coffee/ smoking/alcohol (if any).
With the above measures you will definitely feel better. If you continue to bleed even after the above measures, please consult your doctor for a Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy.
Hope I have answered your query; I'll be available for the follow up queries.
Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon
Dryness of the nose and sinusitis...
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for posting the query and an elaborate history. I will try my best to help you with this problem.
First of all, I would like to reassure you that, there are no symptoms of tumour as per the history described by you.
1. The bleeding from the nose in your case is because of dryness of the nose and sinusitis. The front of the nose is richly supplied with blood. This is the area which gets exposed to the outer atmosphere very frequently. So, during dryness of the skin or the mucosa, it breaks and the blood oozes out. The same applies while touching the nose; the supple skin cracks and bleeding starts.
2. Secondly, you have rightly diagnosed the cause of your headache as sinusitis.
3. Do not worry! The treatment for both these conditions are same.
4. My suggestions to you are:
a. Drink plenty of warm water
b. Use saline nasal spray and saline nasal ointment as frequently as possible. This prevents the dryness of the nose and thus the bleeding.
c. Do steam inhalation regularly. Steam reduces the edema inside the nasal cavity and sinuses and helps in effective clearing of the sinus secretions.
d. Avoid chilled food & beverages/coffee/ smoking/alcohol (if any).
With the above measures you will definitely feel better. If you continue to bleed even after the above measures, please consult your doctor for a Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy.
Hope I have answered your query; I'll be available for the follow up queries.
Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty
Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist
Practicing since :2001
Answered : 2543 Questions
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
