The lining of your nose contains many tiny blood vessels that lie close to the surface and are easily irritated.

The two most common causes of nosebleeds are:

  1. Dry air — when your nasal membranes dry out, they're more susceptible to bleeding and infections
  2. Nose picking

Other causes of nosebleeds include:

  1. Acute sinusitis
  2. Allergies
  3. Aspirin use
  4. Bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia
  5. Blood thinners (anticoagulants), such as warfarin and heparin
  6. Chemical irritants, such as ammonia
  7. Chronic sinusitis
  8. Cocaine use
  9. Common cold
  10. Deviated septum
  11. Object in the nose
  12. Nasal sprays, such as those used to treat allergies, if used frequently
  13. Nonallergic rhinitis
  14. Trauma to the nose

Less common causes of nosebleeds include:

  1. Alcohol use
  2. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
  3. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)
  4. Leukemia
  5. Nasal and paranasal tumors
  6. Nasal polyps
  7. Nasal surgery

In general, nosebleeds are not a symptom or result of high blood pressure.

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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Sept. 13, 2022

See also

  1. Medication-free hypertension control
  2. Acute lymphocytic leukemia
  3. Acute myelogenous leukemia
  4. Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure?
  5. Alpha blockers
  6. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  7. Angiotensin II receptor blockers
  8. Anxiety: A cause of high blood pressure?
  9. Aplastic anemia
  10. Aspergillosis
  11. Beta blockers
  12. Beta blockers: Do they cause weight gain?
  13. Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise?
  14. Blood Cancers and Disorders
  15. Blood pressure: Can it be higher in one arm?
  16. Blood pressure chart
  17. Blood pressure cuff: Does size matter?
  18. Blood pressure: Does it have a daily pattern?
  19. Blood pressure: Is it affected by cold weather?
  20. Blood pressure medication: Still necessary if I lose weight?
  21. Blood pressure medications: Can they raise my triglycerides?
  22. Blood pressure readings: Why higher at home?
  23. Blood pressure tip: Get more potassium
  24. Broken nose
  25. Caffeine and hypertension
  26. Calcium channel blockers
  27. Calcium supplements: Do they interfere with blood pressure drugs?
  28. Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure?
  29. Central-acting agents
  30. Choosing blood pressure medicines
  31. Coarctation of the aorta
  32. Deviated septum
  33. Diuretics
  34. Diuretics: A cause of low potassium?
  35. Essential thrombocythemia
  36. High blood pressure and exercise
  37. Free blood pressure machines: Are they accurate?
  38. Gaucher disease
  39. Home blood pressure monitoring
  40. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
  41. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
  42. Hemophilia
  43. High blood pressure (hypertension)
  44. High blood pressure and cold remedies: Which are safe?
  45. High blood pressure and sex
  46. High blood pressure dangers
  47. What is hypertension? A Mayo Clinic expert explains.
  48. Hypertension FAQs
  49. Hypertensive crisis: What are the symptoms?
  50. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)
  51. Isolated systolic hypertension: A health concern?
  52. L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure?
  53. Medications and supplements that can raise your blood pressure
  54. Menopause and high blood pressure: What's the connection?
  55. Plague
  56. Pulse pressure: An indicator of heart health?
  57. Resperate: Can it help reduce blood pressure?
  58. Sleep deprivation: A cause of high blood pressure?
  59. Stress and high blood pressure
  60. Vasodilators
  61. How to measure blood pressure using a manual monitor
  62. How to measure blood pressure using an automatic monitor
  63. What is blood pressure?
  64. Can a lack of vitamin D cause high blood pressure?
  65. Von Willebrand disease
  66. White coat hypertension
  67. Wrist blood pressure monitors: Are they accurate?