You have several tiny blood vessels right under the lining of your nasal wall, and these blood vessels may crack due to an injury or other reasons to cause a nosebleed. There can be two types of nosebleed. If the bleeding occurs in lower septum of the nostrils, it is anterior nosebleed. It is posterior nosebleed if bleeding occurs at the back of your nose. The posterior nosebleed is usually more serious because it is hard to diagnose and the blood can even blow back to the throat. There can be different factors causing you to nosebleed, but many people think stress has a role to play in it. Can stress cause a nosebleed? Here you will find the answer.

Can Stress Cause Nosebleeds?

Research shows that while stress is not a direct cause of a bleeding nose, it may serve as a trigger in most cases. This usually happens when your blood pressure increases due to stress. That spike in blood pressure may cause a tiny blood vessel in the nose to crack.

How your brain behaves when you are constantly under stress will also have an impact on nose bleeding. Your brain makes certain changes in your body to deal with the increased level of stress which usually results in spike in blood pressure. Your blood pressure continues to rise when you are under constant stress and this leads to a buildup of pressure within the blood vessels. The delicate arteries in your nasal cavity are usually the first ones to respond to this change in pressure, and this leads to a bleeding nose.

It is important to note that anxiety does not usually cause a nosebleed unless there are other factors at play. It may occur if the interior of the nose has become weak due to constant nose-picking, drug use, nasal sprays, or a cold or flu.

How Do I Know I Am Under Stress?

Now that you know the answer to, "Can stress cause nosebleeds?" it is important to understand the signs that you are under stress to avoid unwanted results like nosebleeds. There can be many emotional, physical, and cognitive symptoms.

Emotional Symptoms

• Becoming easily frustrated, agitated, and moody
• Feeling overwhelmed, like things are getting out of control
• Having difficulty concentrating
• Having low self-esteeming with depressed feeling
• Having difficulty socializing

Physical Symptoms

• Headache
• Lowe energy
• Upset stomach, including constipation, diarrhea, and nausea
• Insomnia
• Chest pain with palpitation
• Loss of libido
• Frequent infections and colds
• Dry mouth
• Nervousness, ringing in the ear, and sweaty hands or feet
• Grinding teeth and clenched jaw

Cognitive Symptoms

• Racing thoughts
• Constant worrying
• Inability to concentrate
• Disorganization
• Poor judgment
• Being pessimistic

Behavioral Symptoms

• Loss of appetite or binge eating
• Avoiding responsibilities
• Increased use of drugs, alcohol, etc.
• Feeling nervous with behaviors such as fidgeting, nail biting, etc.

What to Do If I Have Stress-Related Nosebleeds?

You already know the answer to your question, "Can stress cause nosebleeds?"  You also know the signs and symptoms of being under stress. If you know you are under stress and have stress-related nosebleed, what should you do about it then?

• Relax Your Breathing: You need to control your breathing because heavy breathing will increase your heart rate. You should try breathing into a paper bag. Be sure to lie back and pinch your nose with your hand.
• Keep Yourself Hydrated: Dehydration will make things worse. You need to drink plenty of water to help keep your nasal passages moist.
• Take Care During Colder Months: You should do something to keep the lining of your nose moist during colder months. A good way is to apply some petroleum jelly or another antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin or bacitracin in the nose. Use a cotton swab for application. You can also use saline nasal sprays for this.
• Install a Humidifier: You should consider installing a humidifier in your home to add some moisture to dry air.

Taking the following precautionary measures will also help prevent anxiety nosebleeds:

• Have Healthy Diets. Do not eat too much of fatty food and red meat because such food can raise your cholesterol, resulting in illness. What you eat will also have an impact on your anxiety and stress by making you feel regrets about eating unhealthy. Change your unhealthy eating habits and add loads of fruits and vegetables to your diet for better health.
• Do not drink too much of caffeinated beverages. These drinks increase your heart rate that may make you feel edgy. This may make you feel worried and even lead to a full-blown anxiety attack.
• Be active and exercise to keep in shape. Feeling and looking good will help keep stress at bay. A stronger body will also be in a better position to deal with stress triggers. Regular exercise will also strengthen your brain. Be sure to talk to your doctor if exercise causes nosebleeds.
• Be focused and keep yourself busy. You do not need to worry about a bleeding nose all the time. Just be sure to take precautionary measures and focus on your goals.

What Other Things Can Cause Nosebleeds?

Can stress cause nosebleeds? Yes, it can. Are there any other things causing the same? Yes, of course. You may end up dealing with a bleeding nose due to excessive nose picking commonly. Other causes of nosebleeds include allergies, acute sinusitis, aspirin use, cocaine use, chronic sinusitis, chemical irritants (ammonia), deviated septum, trauma to the nose, and foreign body in the nose. Excessive use of nasal sprays to treat allergies may also cause nosebleed.

Some of the less common causes of nosebleed are alcohol use, leukemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, nasal surgery, nasal polyps, nasal tumor, or second trimester pregnancy.