# Why would I suddenly be getting bleeding noses when I cry? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 22, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773 "2011-11-22T18:05:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/1 "2011-11-22T18:05:56Z")
I have a regular appointment with my doctor coming up so I’ll ask her then (I’m not super worried about this…yet), but thought someone might have a similar experience and have something to contribute. I have been under a lot of stress in the past couple of months, including a busy job, graduate school, starting the process of IVF, and now in the last three weeks my marriage seems to be falling apart (though we’re working on it and will hopefully stick it out). As you can imagine, I’ve been doing a lot of crying. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been getting a bleeding nose randomly, but especially when crying. I’ve had a good cry two times in the last three nights, and both times I had a bleeding nose from it. The bleeding is not really just a drip, drip, it’s more of decent flow, and it lasts about 20 minutes. The air is dryer now that it’s winter, but I’ve never had this problem in previous winters. Could stress and sinus pressure from crying burst a blood vessel in my sinuses like this? I’m otherwise healthy, and just had a bunch of testing done for the IVF, all of which came back normal (except I have to get my Rubella vaccination, as I am apparently not immune anymore). ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/2 "2011-11-22T18:24:05Z")
My first thought is “pregnant”, but apparently that’s not it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/3 "2011-11-22T18:29:51Z")
I think the combination of stress, crying, and Calgary’s extremely dry air is plenty to explain it - I get the odd nosebleed here, too, just from the dry air, I think. It sounds gross, but try vaseline in your nose to help moisturize it - see if that helps. Good luck with the IVF and the marriage. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/4 "2011-11-22T18:44:53Z")
When you break down and cry you’re (presumably) feeling extremely stressed out, which shoots up your BP, which can in turn cause a bloody nose. IANAD. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/5 "2011-11-22T18:47:35Z")
20 minutes is a long time for a nosebleed. You could be having a platelet problem, such as thrombocytopenia (not enough of the lil’ buggers). Even though you got lots of tests for your IVF procedures, which I assume included a CBC – complete blood count – tell your doc at your upcoming appointment about the duration of your nosebleeds and insist on another CBC. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/6 "2011-11-22T18:54:35Z")
Could be as simple as dry nasal passages. Try running a humidifier. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/7 "2011-11-22T19:15:39Z")
Thanks for the advice everyone. I agree that it’s probably a combination of a few things. I’ll turn up the humidifier at home and see if that makes a difference too. I’ll talk to my doctor about getting a platelet count done, as well as whatever else she thinks might be necessary. Actually, now that I think of it, clotting factors may be an issue, and I have had three miscarriages, so…hm. I should talk to the fertility clinic too, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/8 "2011-11-22T20:15:20Z")
I take aspirin daily. Nosebleeds became common, but ceased when I went from a low dose aspirin and a normal aspirin to just a low dose daily. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/9 "2011-11-22T20:24:32Z")
Another vote for blood pressure. Have you been having frequent headaches? Lady, you are under a TREMENDOUS amount of stress. The hormones can aggravate blood pressure, and can also affect the blood vessels in your nose. (When I was a kid, I got nosebleeds about the same time as my periods, TMI I know…) ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/10 "2011-11-22T21:14:32Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Another vote for blood pressure. Have you been having frequent headaches? > > Lady, you are under a TREMENDOUS amount of stress. The hormones can aggravate blood pressure, and can also affect the blood vessels in your nose. (When I was a kid, I got nosebleeds about the same time as my periods, TMI I know…) > ~VOW Actually, I have been having regular headaches as well, enough that I’m having to take a Tylenol Migrane for it. Headaches can be caused by high blood pressure? Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/11 "2011-11-22T21:26:27Z")
Go to the appointment, Lady! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/12 "2011-11-22T21:30:39Z")
Yes, yes, I will! It’s actually a follow up because I had her put me on Prozac to try and help me feel a bit normal again. I am handling it (so far)! ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-i-suddenly-be-getting-bleeding-noses-when-i-cry/603773/13 "2011-11-22T21:31:52Z")
My systolic and diastolic can jump 40 and 30 points respectively when I am under acute anxiety (when I am not anxious, plus with the meds I am on my BP is only slightly elevated). So that could be a factor. This product helps me a lot with blood in my nose due to dry winter air. > **[Amazon.com: AYR Saline Nasal Gel with Soothing Aloe,0.5 Ounce (Pack of 4) :...](https://www.amazon.com/Ayr-Saline-Nasal-Soothing-Count/dp/B01IKJ22DU)** > > Buy AYR Saline Nasal Gel with Soothing Aloe,0.5 Ounce (Pack of 4) on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders