That warm trickle of blood flowing from your nostril means that you have a nosebleed. But what caused it? There are many triggers for an epistaxis, or nosebleed, depending on which type of nosebleed you have. There are two different types of nosebleeds: anterior and posterior nosebleeds. These nosebleeds occur in the front, or anterior, of the nose and bleeding tends to originate from a network of blood vessels. These nosebleeds are easy to care for at home and are typically caused by the following: Blowing Your Nose Too Hard Blowing your nose too hard can irritate the nasal passages through the force of dislodging the mucus or by exposing some of the tiny blood vessels that are located inside of the nose. If you tend to get nosebleeds often, you probably have blood clots in your nose from where the bleeding last stopped. Those blood clots can get displaced, causing the bleeding to start once again. It really isn’t the virus itself that causes a nosebleed, but the blowing of the nose.

Blowing your nose too often, just like blowing too hard, can cause a nosebleed. And if you have a runny nose, you’ll probably be blowing it every few minutes. Just remember to blow gently and to pace yourself. If you’re going through a box of tissues per hour, then you’re probably blowing too much. When you have a cold, you may use nasal decongestants to clear your nasal passages. But they tend to dry out the nose, which can lead to a nosebleed. If you have a case of sinusitis, you may also get a nosebleed but most cases of nosebleeds from sinusitis are actually associated with the use of nasal decongestants. As gross as it is, if you pick too hard, especially if you have long and sharp fingernails, you can scratch or tear the inside of your nose, causing it to bleed. Extreme heat or cold, either from the weather or from indoor heating and air conditioning, can dry out the nose, which is a recipe for a nosebleed. If you have allergies, they probably cause your nose to itch, which in turn, makes you want to pick it.

That, along with nasal decongestants, which you also might use for allergies, can cause nosebleeds, especially during the morning and at night. Sitting in the nosebleed section of the auditorium won’t necessarily give you a nosebleed but the humidity or drier air, which tends to be at higher altitudes, can cause your nose to bleed. Nosebleeds are a common symptom of a deviated septum, which occurs when the partition between the nasal passages becomes crooked and out of place. A deviated septum can obstruct the nasal canal, and even allow foreign objects into the nose, which can cause an injury or infection. That injury or infection can lead to excessive nosebleeds. If you were born with a crooked nose or had it broken and never got it fixed, you’ll also be more susceptible to nosebleeds. If you have liver disease, then your blood can’t clot as easily, which can result in a nosebleed. Using drugs, particularly drugs that tend to be snorted, such as cocaine, can cause nosebleeds.

Drinking alcohol excessively can also cause nosebleeds because alcohol prohibits blood clotting and dilates the blood vessels. The other type of nosebleed is called posterior and occurs much less often than anterior nosebleeds. diy airbrush cleaning fluidPosteriors nosebleeds originate at the back of the nose and occur most commonly in the elderly. indiana air duct cleaning south bend inThis type of nosebleed can be fairly serious and usually needs to be treated by a specialist. sharp pci air purifier reviewPosterior nosebleeds are commonly caused by: Blood-thinners like warfarin and heparin and medicines suck as aspirin and ibuprofen can cause posterior, and even anterior, nosebleeds. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can cause nosebleeds although the reason why is still undetermined.

Nosebleeds are a symptom of certain diseases like leukemia; hemophilia, which affects the blood’s ability to clot; and von Willebrand’s disease, which causes bleeding and bruising. When fat and cholesterol build up in your arteries, this can cause them to harden, and hardened arteries in the nose lead to nosebleeds. Tumors in the nasal cavity, whether benign or malignant, can cause nosebleeds. If you fall and land on your head or hit your head, or if your receive any trauma to your head, it can cause a nosebleed. A common side effect of nasal surgery is a nosebleed and it can range from mild to severe. If you’ve been experiencing a lot of nosebleeds lately, it may be an indication that you have a calcium deficiency. Check with your doctor and take a supplement if you think this may be the cause of your epistaxis. The chemicals in cigarette smoke, ammonia, sulfuric acid, gasoline and others can irritant the nose, resulting in a nosebleed. A Holistic Approach to Allergies

How to Use a Neti Pot Not Just a Runny Nose Sinus Rinsing for Allergy Relief Allergy & Asthma Videos Find a Sutter Allergist All Allergy and Asthma Articles Allergic Rhinitis: More Than a Runny Nose Sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes and fatigue may look like symptoms of the common cold, but for many, these symptoms are caused by allergies. Inflammation and irritation of the nasal passages due to seasonal and year-round allergens is called allergic rhinitis, and it is one of the most common illnesses in the United States, affecting one in three people. Allergic rhinitis can develop at any age and affect children as young as 4 months. This common health problem tends to run in families, can last for life and can lead to many days of missed school or work. It also can affect a child’s quality of life just like any other chronic illness. In fact, some consider it the most common chronic disease in children. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include sneezing, runny nose (rhinorrhea), nasal congestion, itchy nose and post-nasal drip.

Some people with allergic rhinitis also may suffer from wheezing, eye tearing, sore throat and chronic cough. In addition, sinus headaches and “plugged” ears are common problems. Symptoms can be mild or severe, depending on the time of year and the type and frequency of exposure to the substance that is triggering the allergic reaction. Uncontrolled symptoms also can lead to other problems, such as sinus infections, ear infections, more frequent cold viruses, nosebleeds and worsening of asthma. What Causes Allergic Rhinitis? Allergic rhinitis typically is caused by tiny particles in the air that the body’s immune system mistakes for a threatening substance. Tree, grass and ragweed pollens are the most common seasonal outdoor allergens. Spring is an especially difficult time for children with seasonal allergies because that is when plants reproduce and the amount of pollen in the air is highest. Dust mites, cockroaches, molds and animal dander are examples of indoor allergens that can lead to symptoms all year long (perennial allergies).

How Is Allergic Rhinitis Diagnosed? Because allergic rhinitis can cause symptoms that are very similar to an upper respiratory infection (a cold), a careful history and physical exam by your child’s doctor is needed to diagnose the condition. The doctor will look for the following clues:Patterns in when and where symptoms worsen. Allergic rhinitis is more likely in children who have symptoms associated with a season or a known trigger, such as cat dander.The presence of other known hereditary allergic diseases, such as eczema, or a family history of allergies is more common in children with allergic rhinitis.Physical signs of allergies that look slightly different from the signs of a common cold. These often include swollen and pale nasal mucosa (lining of the nose), red eyes, swelling of the eyelids and “allergic shiners” (darkened areas under the lower eyelids). Itching of the eyes or nose also is a common feature of allergies that is usually not seen with a cold. In addition, the common cold symptoms of fever and sore throat are absent with allergies.

Skin testing, which involves injecting a small amount of the suspected allergen under the skin and watching for a reaction, is the most definitive way to confirm the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. However, this test may be unreliable for children under age 2. How Is Allergic Rhinitis Treated? The goal of treatment is to reduce allergy symptoms. Avoiding the allergen is the best treatment, but certain medications also can help. Here are some tips for treating allergic rhinitis:Seasonal allergens and pollens are difficult to avoid outdoors, but you can minimize their effects indoors by closing windows and running air conditioners.You can reduce exposure to year-round (perennial) allergens, such as dust mites and molds, by covering pillows and mattresses with plastic covers and removing dust-collecting household items, such as carpets, heavy drapes and bedspreads.Although air purifiers and dust filters can be costly, they may help reduce the amount of an allergen in the air.Saline nasal sprays and humidity can help congestion and are very low-risk treatments.

Allergic rhinitis is caused by the immune system triggering the body to produce inflammation with chemical agents called histamines. Therefore, antihistamines, such as Benadryl (chlorphenhydrmine), can reduce symptoms by blocking the histamine cycle of allergies. Non-sedating (less likely to cause drowsiness) and long-acting antihistamines, such as Claritin (loratidine) and Zyrtec (fexofenadine), are widely used and available over the counter in both tablet and liquid forms. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zyrtec for use in children as young as 6 months. Talk with your doctor about which of the several prescription antihistamines on the market your child should take.Nasal sprays such as Nasalcrom (cromolyn sodium) or steroids such as Flonase (fluticasone) and Nasonex (mometasone furoate monohydrate) work extremely well for nasal symptoms. However, young children often do not tolerate these drugs well and the drugs may take up to two weeks to work.Allergy shots (immunotherapy) involve injecting a child with gradually increasing doses of the substance that triggers the allergic reaction.