HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Does A Nose Bleed Symbolise Pulmonary Embolism?

Can a nose bleed be a sign of pulmonary embolism? My father has already had pulmonary embolism within the last three years and one year ago had multiple blood clots in both legs all the way from ankles up to kidney. He has had several procedures to remove these and is on anticoagulants. He recently has become very short of breath and he has told us that he is having nosebleeds. What is your opinion?
Wed, 23 Aug 2017
Report Abuse
Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Hello! The nose bleed (medically termed epistaxis)cannot happen because of Pulmonary embolism per se. Embolism means there is clotting of blood in that blood vessel. While what your parent had experienced is bleeding (opposite of clotting ) Since you have mentioned that he is on anticoagulant medications (blood thinners) it is possible that these drugs have caused excessive thinking of blood than that was therapeutically aimed for in your father . Also it is possible that this nose bleed could have been initiated by some other cause and aggravated by the blood thinner medications. In that case the underlying cause (may be hypertension or trauma to nose or anything else relevant )needs to be looked for and treated. While on the way to physician , to reduce the nose bleed, ask your father to pinch his nose for few seconds and lean forwards , application of ice packs can help constricting the leaking blood vessels and reduce bleed. The doctor would do a nasal packing to control bleed . Get his blood pressure checked and INR testing done (accordingly the dose of anticoagulant needs to be adjusted)
I find this answer helpful

1 Doctor agrees with this answer

Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Loading Online Doctors....
Does A Nose Bleed Symbolise Pulmonary Embolism?

Hello! The nose bleed (medically termed epistaxis)cannot happen because of Pulmonary embolism per se. Embolism means there is clotting of blood in that blood vessel. While what your parent had experienced is bleeding (opposite of clotting ) Since you have mentioned that he is on anticoagulant medications (blood thinners) it is possible that these drugs have caused excessive thinking of blood than that was therapeutically aimed for in your father . Also it is possible that this nose bleed could have been initiated by some other cause and aggravated by the blood thinner medications. In that case the underlying cause (may be hypertension or trauma to nose or anything else relevant )needs to be looked for and treated. While on the way to physician , to reduce the nose bleed, ask your father to pinch his nose for few seconds and lean forwards , application of ice packs can help constricting the leaking blood vessels and reduce bleed. The doctor would do a nasal packing to control bleed . Get his blood pressure checked and INR testing done (accordingly the dose of anticoagulant needs to be adjusted)