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Is a runny nose a cause for concern? Which means there’s a lot of blood in the mucus? Does blood indicate sinus problems? Could it be a consequence of using nasal drops for a long time? The question is answered by the drug. Anna Mitschke.
Is a runny nose a cause for concern?
Hello and welcome. I live in one of the coldest regions of Poland, so I catch a cold almost every year. However, this year I noticed that my cold is accompanied by runny nose with blood. It has happened to me before, but this time I have the impression that there is much more of this blood. When I blow my nose, the discharge is thick and the blood is a significant part of it. Still, somehow I don’t feel bad about it. I have no other infections (at least I think so), I go to work and am fit despite having a cold.
Nevertheless, this excess blood every time I snot is disturbing. Could a runny nose with blood suggest I have one sinus problem? I must admit that I also use nasal drops. Every time I get a bit more runny, I use them regularly. Sometimes I used them for more than a week. This is my primary “weapon” in the fight against rhinitis. Therefore, I have a question, can these drops also be harmful? In addition, I am very cold and in winter I can really get a fire in the stove until it feels like the air in the rooms is dry. Thank you in advance for your help and best regards from frosty Suwałki. Adam
The doctor advises what a runny nose with blood means
The nasal cavity is richly vascularized, which allows it to perform its functions – heating and purifying the air, which then enters the respiratory tract. Epistaxis is a common complaint. Most often we are dealing with frontal bleeding – the so-called Kiesselbach plexus. This symptom occurs in the course of many diseases. Usually, however, it is not dangerous and is gentle. Causes of nosebleeds we can divide into local and general.
Local causes include injuries, e.g. during a medical examination, external injuries, microtraumas of the mucosa during vigorous blowing of the nose (then we will notice blood on a tissue with nasal discharge), or when picking the nose. Another local cause is atrophic rhinitis most often resulting from chronic use of nasal drops. Various types of toxic agents can damage the nasal mucosa.
Bleeding from the nose can be caused by a foreign body, e.g. children often stuff toy parts into their nose. Another cause of bleeding is vascular malformation in the nasal cavity. Dry air, e.g. in air-conditioned or intensively heated rooms, may dry out the nasal cavity and, consequently, cause injuries and bleeding. Curvature or perforation of the septum – another cause of epistaxis. Unfortunately, some tumors in this localization can manifest themselves with epistaxis.
Epistaxis may be a symptom of a systemic disease such as arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular failure, endocrine disorders, coagulation disorders, metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, liver failure. I suggest visiting your GP or directly to the otolaryngologist. The doctor, after collecting a complete history and examining the patient, will decide on further proceedings. If necessary, he will order the necessary tests and implement appropriate treatment.
— Lek. Anna Mitchke
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