A posterior nosebleed occurs when the back of the nose in the nasal cavity becomes damaged and bleeds.
A nosebleed, or epistaxis, usually occurs when blood vessels in the tissue inside your nose are damaged and begin bleeding. The nosebleed is likely a posterior nosebleed if blood comes out of the nose for 20 minutes or longer or if a head, nose or face injury occurs. With a posterior nosebleed, blood can leak into the throat; seek medical attention in this case.
Causes for Posterior Nosebleed
Posterior nosebleeds can have various causes, including trauma, high blood pressure or other conditions, with high blood pressure being the most common. Medications or medical conditions can also cause posterior nosebleeds.
Various causes include:
- Picking, scratching or blowing the nose too hard or too often
- Changes in air pressure or the weather
- Inhaling tobacco smoke, including secondhand smoke
- Inhaling chemicals
- Receiving an injury that fractures part of the nose or skull, like while playing sports at Upper Palmetto YMCA
- Having a deviated septum, causing a smaller-than-average airway, making it more susceptible to bleeding
- Medical conditions that impact blood vessels
- Tumors in or around the nose
- Complications from surgery or other medical procedures
If you have a nosebleed, put gauze or cotton in the nose to stop the bleeding. Avoid lying down so blood doesn’t trickle down the throat. Once the nosebleed has stopped, avoid picking or blowing the nose afterward to allow the injury to heal. If the nosebleed lasts longer than 20-30 minutes, see a doctor.
A doctor can provide a few options for treating a posterior nosebleed and will examine the nose to determine a potential cause. Depending on the reason for the nosebleed treatment options can include:
- Inflatable balloons with saline in the nasal cavity to stop the bleeding
- Irrigation tools to soothe irritation
- Therapies, tools or probes to seal off blood vessels causing the bleeding
- Medications inside the nose
- Embolization of the nose
In some cases, the doctor may perform surgery if the cause is due to an injury or if persistent posterior nosebleeds are present.
An ENT can assist with identifying causes for posterior nosebleeds. If you experience chronic nosebleeds, contact Palmetto ENT & Allergy to schedule an appointment with a specialist today.