First Aid & Emergencies

What may increase your risk for problems from a nose injury or nosebleed?

Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.

Conditions

• Younger than age 3 months
• Older than age 60
• A problem or condition present since birth
• Previous injury to the nose or face
• Previous surgery to the nose area
• Severe malnutrition or vitamin deficiencies
• Structural problems, such as nasal polyps or a deviated septum
• Surgery to remove the spleen

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal
• Exposure to some chemical fumes
• Inhaled illegal drugs, such as amphetamines, methamphetamines, and cocaine
• Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
• Overuse of nonprescription nasal sprays or inhalers

Medicines

• Antihistamines, decongestants, and medicated nasal sprays, such as steroid nasal sprays
• Antipsychotic medicines, such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol, and thioridazine
• Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Blood-thinning medicines, such as warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Radiation therapy
• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, and doxepin
• Viagra

Diseases

• Allergic rhinitis
• Anemia
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Cancer
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Diabetes
• Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia
• Hemophilia
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• Inherited bone disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Lupus
• Multiple sclerosis
• Osteomyelitis
• Osteoporosis
• Seizure disorders
• Sickle cell disease
• Vascular disease
• Von Willebrand's disease
• Wegner's granulomatosis