When you get a nosebleed, where is the blood coming from (i.e vein or artery or something else)? I’ve had nosebleeds from being clocked in the face, but also for no apparent reason – so what can cause nosebleeds?
The ones for “no apparent reason” may occur due to dry weather. Even here in a temperate rainforest, we get some very dry days, and the air sometimes causes a nosebleed. The AirCon may be a culprit here, too.
I get them when I have a cold – the veins in my nose are evidently quite close to the surface, and irritation can cause a nosebleed. Dry air doesn’t help, either.
Generally the blood comes from capillaries in the nasal mucosa. This tissue is quite thin, and between inflammation from viral infections and dryness from low humidity, the capillaries get quite fragile and bleed. Good nasal lubricants to help this include; vaseline or olive oil (recommended by an otolaryngologist friend of mine). Mostly the area bleeding is close to the nasal opening, but on occasion, more troublesome bleeds come from larger vessels further back. Treatment of these can get more complicated.
QtM, MD