The nose is a very vascular area of the body that contains many
arterioles (tiny blood vessels) that can bleed easily. Nosebleeds
occur more frequently in the winter when heated indoor air can dry
the membranes of the nose. Also, air moving through the
nose can also dry out the membranes and can form crusts. These
crusts bleed when irritated by rubbing, picking, or blowing the
nose.Occasionally, nosebleeds may indicate other disorders such as
bleeding disorders, high blood pressure, or hardening of the
arteries.
Review Date: 10/18/2009
Reviewed By: Alan Lipkin, MD, Otolaryngologist, Private Practice, Denver,
Colorado. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also
reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
