Does Having High Blood Pressure Cause Nosebleeds

You may get more nosebleeds if you have high blood pressure. But you can take steps to lower your blood pressure levels, and there are simple at-home ways to treat nosebleeds if you do experience them.
High blood pressure is sometimes called the silent killer because it often doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. However, research shows that chronic high blood pressure, known as hypertension, raises your risk of nosebleeds.

This article focuses on why high blood pressure can lead to more frequent and severe nosebleeds, and what the medical community recommends you do about reducing your blood pressure levels and treating the causes of nosebleeds before they happen.
If you’re at increased risk, there are certain steps you can take to prepare and treat nosebleeds if they occur.
Does high blood pressure cause nosebleeds?
The question of whether high blood pressure leads to nosebleeds (epistaxis) has been widely debated over the decades.
While some researchTrusted Source isn’t conclusive and doesn’t show any cause-and-effect relationship between the two, many studies over the years have actually shown that hypertension is a risk factorTrusted Source for nosebleeds and is more directly linked to that condition.

This nationwide population study in 2020 involved people with and without hypertension, finding people who had high blood pressure were 1.47 times more likely to get nosebleeds than those without hypertension.
What is high blood pressure?
Hypertension is a blood pressure reading higher than 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). If your blood pressure reading is greater than 140/90 mm Hg, you may be diagnosed with stage 2 hypertension.
Researchers point to the likelihood that the blood vessels in your nose are more susceptible to damage and more likely to bleed over time.

The 2020 pair of studies noted that for people with hypertension, nosebleeds may be more severe and more difficult to manage compared to those without hypertension.
Other hypertension symptoms

Aside from a higher risk of nosebleeds, people with hypertension might also experience other symptoms that include:
• headaches
• severe anxiety
• dizziness
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• confusion
• nausea
• vomiting

Medical emergency
If you have a blood pressure reading over 180/120 mm Hg and you’re experiencing other symptoms of a hypertensive crisis such as a headache or shortness of breath, call 911 for immediate medical attention.
Can another condition cause frequent nosebleeds?

High blood pressure is common, but you may experience nosebleeds for unrelated reasons. These might includeTrusted Source:
• exposure to dry air
• picking your nose
• damage to your nose or nasal vessels
• nasal sprays
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)Trusted Source, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin
• other medical conditions, such as cancer or hemophilia
• blood thinners