Our environment also plays
an important part in causing nosebleeds.
Our nose should be moist, and not dry. If it is dry, the lining breaks
down and we bleed. So sudden changes in
the environment make the nose drier and can cause bleeding. This happens if we
fly especially for long journeys or go from a warm, humid climate to visit a
dry climate like a winter skiing holiday in the Alps or if the temperature
suddenly drops like during the Winter Solstice in Hong Kong. An underlying
condition or drug may also cause dryness of the nose. Patients with
radiotherapy to the nose for previous cancer or atrophic rhinitis (an
inflammatory condition of the nose that has caused a reduction in the mucus
secreting cells of the nose) will predispose the lining of the nose to easy
breakdown and bleeding.
Interestingly also the internal passage size of our nose also affects our
frequency of nose bleeding too, by creating a drier environment. If one’s nose
is narrower on one side, there is more turbulence generated when we breathe
normally. This turbulence causes local drying effects, lining breakdown and
therefore bleeding. This narrowing can be caused by a deviated septum of the
nose, enlarged turbinate from nose allergy or sinus polyps that narrow the
passages themselves.
So epistaxis/nosebleeds are common. The cause/s of any nosebleed is varied and
is the interplay between the anatomy of the nose, an underlying condition and
environment factors. As mentioned earlier, most nosebleeds have no significant
cause. However if any nose bleeding persists, recurs and/or is unusually heavy,
it is always best to seek an assessment by your ENT Specialist to exclude all
causes. Thankfully here too, most causes are easily treated.
Reference: www.entific.com.hk/
The information aims to provide educational purpose only. Anyone reading it should consult ENT Specialists before considering treatment and should not rely on the information above.
