Nosebleeds are common, usually harmless, and typically clear up with home care. However, if bleeding is severe, doesn’t stop, or happens frequently, it’s best to get medical attention.
Seeing blood after blowing your nose may concern you, but it’s often not serious. Your nose has a significant blood supply, leading to bleeding when you blow your nose frequently.
If you experience it only occasionally or briefly, home-based and over-the-counter treatments may provide relief.
This article will cover the causes of bloody mucus, how to treat it at home, and when to seek medical attention.
You may experience slight or heavy bleeding from your nose because of damage to the interior of your nasal passages.
Nosebleeds
Your nose has many blood vessels that can become damaged for various reasons.
Once the blood vessel is damaged, you may experience bleeding more frequently when blowing your nose until it fully heals.
Reasons you may experience bleeding when blowing your nose can include:
You may experience bleeding when blowing your nose more commonly in winter. Cold and dry air can damage your nose’s blood vessels due to a lack of moisture. It may become even more dry and irritated in the winter when you spend time in heated indoor environments that lack humidity.
Dryness in the nose can also delay the healing of broken blood vessels, resulting in infections. This, in turn, can lead to more frequent bleeding when blowing your nose.
You may be able to relieve nosebleeds caused by cold and dryness by:
- using a humidifier
- breathing steam, such as in a warm shower or bath
- using saline nasal spray
Learn more ways to treat a dry nose at home.
Picking your nose can damage blood vessels. Nose picking in children is a frequent cause of bloody noses.
You may also experience trauma to your nose’s blood vessels if a foreign object enters your nose.
Young children commonly put items into their noses, but accidentally inhaling a foreign object may also be possible with adults.
You may be able to remove a foreign object from your nose by blowing the object out. Some people may need medical attention to remove the object.
You may experience bleeding when blowing your nose because of nasal congestion or a respiratory infection. Frequent blowing of the nose may create broken blood vessels. This can also occur if you sneeze or cough frequently.
You may experience nasal congestion or respiratory infections from multiple causes, including:
- common cold or flu
- allergies
- sinusitis
- another infection
You may be able to treat nasal congestion with an OTC medication, such as a nasal decongestant. This may allow your nose to heal with less frequent blowing. Note that nasal decongestants are designed for short-term use. If you use them for longer than a few days, you may experience worse rebound symptoms.
Regularly using topical nasal sprays may also increase nosebleeds.
The anatomical structure of your nose may lead to bleeding when you blow your nose. Due to anatomical differences, your nose may not get enough moisture. This can result in your nose bleeding when you blow it.
These kinds of anatomical differences in your nose structure can include:
- deviated septum
- holes in the septum
- bony spurs
- fractures
Treatment for anatomical differences is not typically necessary if they do not obstruct your breathing. However, some people may have surgery to correct them.
Any injury or surgical intervention to your nose or face may cause blood when blowing your nose.
Treatment following a nose injury or surgery typically involves:
- applying a cool compress
- resting
- avoiding blowing your nose
- avoiding strenuous activities, such as lifting heavy items or exercising
- not bending over, which can increase blood flow
The blood vessels in your nose may become damaged by the use of snorted drugs like cocaine or exposure to harsh chemicals like ammonia.
Avoiding these substances may allow your nose to heal.
It’s best to get support if you’re considering quitting cocaine use, as it may cause symptoms of withdrawal.
You may experience bleeding when blowing your nose because you take certain medications. This can include:
- blood-thinning medications like aspirin and warfarin (Coumadin) that affect the ability of your blood to clot
- OTC nasal sprays
- inhaled corticosteroids
Very rarely, blood when blowing your nose can happen due to a tumor in the nose. Other symptoms of nasal and paranasal sinus tumors can include:
- pain around your eyes
- bulging eye
- nasal congestion that progressively gets worse
- decreased sense of smell
- pus draining from the nose
If you notice nasal symptoms that last longer than a typical illness, worsen, or occur with other concerning symptoms, it is best to talk with a doctor. As with many types of cancer, early detection can
You can treat this condition at home if you suspect the cause isn’t serious.
You can treat blood that is gushing or running from your nose after blowing at home by:
- sitting down
- relaxing
- tilting your head forward
- pinching your nose shut
- breathing through your mouth
Once the bleeding is under control, keep your head above your heart for several hours and avoid contact with your nose.
After you’ve got a heavy nosebleed under control or if you’re trying to treat a minor nosebleed, consider:
- using a saline spray to add moisture to your nose
- avoiding nose picking, nose blowing, or inserting any foreign objects in your nose while it heals
- applying petroleum jelly to the inside of your nose with a cotton swab every day to keep it moisturized
- adding moisture to the air with a humidifier during cold and dry months
Serious nosebleeds that last longer than 15 or 20 minutes at a time or frequent bleeding when blowing the nose require medical attention from a doctor.
If you have other concerning symptoms along with nosebleeds or if your nosebleeds worsen or occur more often, it’s best to talk with a doctor.
A doctor can recommend a course of treatment to prevent it from reoccurring, depending on the cause. This may include:
- basic treatments at home
- cauterization
- nasal packing
- surgical intervention
If they determine an underlying cause, they may recommend treating that cause, which may resolve your symptoms.
Nosebleeds often resolve with proper treatment at home.
You should see your doctor if you suspect the bleeding when blowing your nose is caused by a more serious condition or if you experience frequent or severe nosebleeds.
