Around 60 per cent of Britons have suffered from a nosebleed at some point in their lives and in most cases the problem is harmless.
However, experts have warned of little-known telltale signs that nosebleeds indicate something far more sinister.
Some types of nosebleeds can indicate heart disease, liver failure, and even deadly blood cancers.
“Nosebleeds are the sort of things that patients come in thinking are harmless, but they can tell us there’s something else going on in the background,” says Dr Dean Eggitt, a GP in Doncaster.
If nosebleeds occur in the back of the nose or both nostrils, they could indicate a variety of conditions, from cancer to heart problems.
According to NHS guidelines, the length of a nosebleed is the biggest indicator of an underlying problem – if it bleeds for more than 20 minutes, you should go to A&E.
However, Dr. Eggitt says there are other warning signs to look out for.
For example, notice which part of your nose the blood is coming from.
“If it comes out the back of your nose and goes down your throat, that’s an immediate warning sign,” says Dr. Eggitt.
‘The blood vessels are larger compared to the front of your nose, which means you are likely to lose a lot of blood.
“If this is the case, I would be concerned about nose and throat cancer and broken blood vessels.”
If bleeding occurs in the front of the nose, but in both nostrils, be careful.
This could be a sign of an underlying problem with the body’s ability to clot blood.
Dr Eggitt says possible conditions could include liver failure (where the organ is unable to produce proteins needed to help blood clot), a serious infection, a reaction to a medication and, in the worst cases, blood cancers such as leukaemia.
The best way to stop a nosebleed is to lean forward and pinch the tip of your nose for 15 minutes, according to NHS guidelines.
Leukemia can cause a decrease in the number of blood platelets, which help blood clot, causing excessive bleeding.
“I would also look for bruising on the body,” says Dr. Eggitt.
Bleeding from both nostrils could also be a sign of heart disease. “If you have high blood pressure, your arteries are congested, which puts you at risk of bursting a blood vessel in your nose, for example,” says Dr. Eggitt.
“This is an indicator that you are at high risk for heart attacks and strokes.”
He adds that some blood-thinning medications given to prevent heart attacks and strokes, such as clopidogrel and warfarin, can also cause bleeding in the nasal cavity.
The most common and normal type of nosebleed is one that occurs in one nostril and the bleeding comes from the front tip of the nose.
This is an area of the nose known as Little’s area, which has small, very sensitive blood vessels that are vulnerable to breakage.
“It’s the part of the nose that kids tend to pick at, so it’s not uncommon for them to get injured,” says Dr. Eggitt. “But it would be unusual for them to get injured by blowing too hard or picking with both sides.”
As for stopping a nosebleed, the NHS suggests leaning forward with your head tilted and mouth open and pinching the soft part of your nose, just above the nostril, for 10 to 15 minutes.
Breathe through your mouth and spit any blood that collects in your mouth into a container.
Seek advice if bleeding does not stop after 20 minutes.