Headaches and cases of nosebleeds or nosebleeds are common. Nosebleeds occur due to ruptured or fragile nasal vessels. Headaches and nosebleeds can be a symptom of a minor problem, such as hay fever, or a more serious problem, such as anemia or a low red blood cell count.
What factors cause headaches and nosebleeds?
Environmental factors and lifestyle can play a role in the occurrence of headaches and nosebleeds. It is easy to tear the small blood vessels in the nose, especially when it is dry. Deviation of the nasal septum or displacement of the wall in the nose is the main reason for the occurrence of both symptoms. Along with headache and nosebleeds, deviation of the nasal septum causes blockage of one or both nostrils, facial pain and noisy breathing during sleep. Other mild cases that can cause headaches and nosebleeds:
Allergic rhinitis or hay fever
a cold
Sinus infection
Excessive use of decongestants or nasal sprays
Dry mucus in the nose
Some serious, but less common, conditions that cause headaches and nosebleeds include:
Congenital heart disease
Leukemia
Brain Tumor
Essential thrombocythemia or increased platelets in the blood
If you have other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or dizziness along with headache and nosebleeds, you should see a doctor.
Allergic rhinitis or hay fever
a cold
Sinus infection
Excessive use of decongestants or nasal sprays
Dry mucus in the nose
Some serious, but less common, conditions that cause headaches and nosebleeds include:
Congenital heart disease
Leukemia
Brain Tumor
Essential thrombocythemia or increased platelets in the blood
If you have other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or dizziness along with headache and nosebleeds, you should see a doctor.
What factors cause headaches and nosebleeds in adults?
One study found that adults with migraines experienced significantly more nosebleeds, and these findings suggest that nosebleeds are a precursor to migraines, but more research is needed. If frequent nosebleeds are accompanied by severe headaches, the body sends an early warning signal. Some of the things that cause headaches and nosebleeds are:
Excessive dryness
Carbon monoxide poisoning
high blood pressure
Anemia
Nasal infection
Excessive use of cocaine
Accidental inhalation of chemicals such as ammonia
Side effects of drugs such as warfarin
head injury
You should always see a doctor after a head injury, especially if the condition worsens. A study found that people with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia reported nosebleeds at the same time as migraines, a rare genetic disorder that causes several abnormalities in the blood vessels.
Excessive dryness
Carbon monoxide poisoning
high blood pressure
Anemia
Nasal infection
Excessive use of cocaine
Accidental inhalation of chemicals such as ammonia
Side effects of drugs such as warfarin
head injury
You should always see a doctor after a head injury, especially if the condition worsens. A study found that people with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia reported nosebleeds at the same time as migraines, a rare genetic disorder that causes several abnormalities in the blood vessels.
Causes of headache and nosebleeds during pregnancy
Headaches and nosebleeds are common during pregnancy, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Breathing is difficult during pregnancy because the mucus and nasal passages receive more blood. An increase in the amount of blood in the small vessels of the nose causes bleeding. You are likely to experience hormonal changes, especially in the first trimester, which can also cause headaches. If your headaches are severe and bothersome, call your doctor because it may be a sign of preeclampsia or high blood pressure and organ damage. Always see a doctor if the nosebleeds are profuse and the headache does not go away after 20 minutes.
Causes of headache and nosebleeds in children
Many children get nosebleeds if:
Wipe the nose with a finger
Having a bad posture
Eliminate food
insufficient sleep
Also, a reliable source admits that children with migraine are more prone to nosebleeds. Heavy bleeding sometimes causes headaches. When these symptoms occur frequently and close together, it may be a warning sign of a more serious condition such as high blood pressure, leukemia, or anemia. See a doctor if your child has the following symptoms:
tiredness
weakness
Chills or feeling cold
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Easy bruising or bleeding
By checking the child’s blood pressure, the doctor may prescribe some tests to determine the exact cause.
Wipe the nose with a finger
Having a bad posture
Eliminate food
insufficient sleep
Also, a reliable source admits that children with migraine are more prone to nosebleeds. Heavy bleeding sometimes causes headaches. When these symptoms occur frequently and close together, it may be a warning sign of a more serious condition such as high blood pressure, leukemia, or anemia. See a doctor if your child has the following symptoms:
tiredness
weakness
Chills or feeling cold
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Easy bruising or bleeding
By checking the child’s blood pressure, the doctor may prescribe some tests to determine the exact cause.
When should you get emergency medical care?
Call emergency if any of the following symptoms occur:
confusion
faint
Fever
Paralysis of one side of the body
Difficulty with movements such as talking or walking
Nausea or vomiting that is not related to the flu
See a doctor if any of the following occur:
Excessive bleeding
Bleeding for more than 20 minutes
Bleeding that interferes with breathing
broken
If the child has a nosebleed and is less than 2 years old
See a doctor in case of nosebleeds and headache:
Continuous or recurring
It prevents you from participating in normal activities
getting worse
It does not improve with over-the-counter medications
Most nosebleeds and headaches go away on their own or with self-care. This information is a summary of emergency situations, so call your doctor if needed.
confusion
faint
Fever
Paralysis of one side of the body
Difficulty with movements such as talking or walking
Nausea or vomiting that is not related to the flu
See a doctor if any of the following occur:
Excessive bleeding
Bleeding for more than 20 minutes
Bleeding that interferes with breathing
broken
If the child has a nosebleed and is less than 2 years old
See a doctor in case of nosebleeds and headache:
Continuous or recurring
It prevents you from participating in normal activities
getting worse
It does not improve with over-the-counter medications
Most nosebleeds and headaches go away on their own or with self-care. This information is a summary of emergency situations, so call your doctor if needed.
How are headaches and nosebleeds diagnosed?
It is better to go to the doctor to follow up on your symptoms. During the meeting, the doctor will ask you:
Are you taking any new medications?
Do you use decongestant sprays?
How long have you had these headaches and nosebleeds?
What other symptoms or discomfort are you experiencing?
They will also ask about your family history to see if you have certain genetic factors, and the answers to these questions will help your doctor decide if you need tests. Some of the tests that the doctor prescribes for you are:
Blood tests to check blood cell counts or other blood disorders
X-ray of the head or chest
Kidney ultrasound to check the symptoms of chronic kidney disease
Blood pressure test
Are you taking any new medications?
Do you use decongestant sprays?
How long have you had these headaches and nosebleeds?
What other symptoms or discomfort are you experiencing?
They will also ask about your family history to see if you have certain genetic factors, and the answers to these questions will help your doctor decide if you need tests. Some of the tests that the doctor prescribes for you are:
Blood tests to check blood cell counts or other blood disorders
X-ray of the head or chest
Kidney ultrasound to check the symptoms of chronic kidney disease
Blood pressure test
Treatments for headaches and nosebleeds
If the nosebleed does not stop, the doctor uses a device to close the vein. This will stop the nosebleed and help reduce the risk of future bleeding. Other treatments for nosebleeds include surgery to remove the foreign object or correct a deviated septum or fracture. While over-the-counter pain relievers relieve headaches, aspirin may cause more nosebleeds because it is a blood thinner. In case of frequent migraines, the doctor will prescribe a special medicine for you. If a headache occurs and there is an underlying disease, the doctor first focuses on treating the disease.
Treatment of headache in children
A reputable source recommends non-drug methods for relieving chronic daily headaches in children. These methods include the following:
Headache notes to identify patterns and triggers
Make sure your child eats all his meals
Changing environmental factors such as bright lights
Adopting healthy lifestyle factors such as exercise and good sleeping habits
Practice relaxation techniques
Headache notes to identify patterns and triggers
Make sure your child eats all his meals
Changing environmental factors such as bright lights
Adopting healthy lifestyle factors such as exercise and good sleeping habits
Practice relaxation techniques
Taking care of headache and nosebleeds at home
A cool room temperature can help minimize the risk of nosebleeds. In addition, to treat nosebleeds immediately, you can do the following:
Sit up to reduce nasal blood pressure and minimize bleeding.
Lean forward to prevent blood from entering the mouth.
Press both nostrils until pressure is applied to the nose.
While holding it, place cotton pads in the nose to prevent bleeding.
When applying pressure to the nose, you should keep your nostrils closed for 10 to 15 minutes.
Once the bleeding has stopped, apply a warm or cool compress to your head or neck to relieve pain. Resting in a quiet, cool, dark room can also help reduce pain.
Prevent headaches and nosebleeds
In dry seasons, you can use humidifiers in your home to keep the air moist. This will prevent the inside of the nose from drying out and reduce the risk of nosebleeds. If you have seasonal allergies, take over-the-counter allergy medicine to prevent headaches and nosebleeds. By taking steps to reduce stress in your life, you can prevent and reduce tension and migraine headaches. This can mean changing how you sit, taking time to relax, and identifying triggers so you can avoid them.
Translator: Goddess Zarei
