Ear, Nose & Throat Treatment When to Worry About a Nosebleed Heavy, nonstop, or frequent bleeding is cause for concern By Kristin Hayes, RN Updated on October 07, 2022 Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Bleeding Won't Stop Bleeding Is Heavy Severe Trauma High Blood Pressure You Taste Blood Bleeds Are Frequent Frequently Asked Questions A bloody nose usually stops after a few minutes and is nothing serious. However, you should worry about a nosebleed if you can't stop the bleeding, have lost a lot of blood, have trouble breathing, or you're vomiting from swallowing blood. You should also get medical attention for frequent nosebleeds or a bloody nose that comes on after a serious injury. This article discusses the cases in which you should make an appointment with a healthcare provider or go the hospital for a nosebleed. Getting care when you need it can prevent consequences of blood loss, as well as help you get a diagnosis or treatment for a potential underlying health condition. Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin Your Nose Bleeds Nonstop for 20 Minutes Most healthy people should be able to stop a bloody nose at home in 20 minutes or less. Try leaning slightly forward and gently pinching your nostrils together. This helps the blood clot. It may take longer if you have a bleeding disorder. If you have a condition like hemophilia, which causes problems with blood clotting, talk to your healthcare provider. If you are on blood-thinning medications, you should also seek medical help. You Are Losing Too Much Blood Excessive blood loss can make a bloody nose an emergency. Sometimes, though, it can be hard to judge how much blood you've lost. A few tablespoons can look like a lot. If you are gushing blood, call 911. If pinching does not stop the dripping, use a container to catch the blood. A measuring cup is ideal because it will help a medical professional know how much blood you've lost. Blood loss is most concerning if you have a history of blood diseases such as hemophilia or anemia. When you are anemic, you don't have enough red blood cells. Prolonged nosebleeds are also a concern if you are taking medications that thin the blood, such as: Aspirin Coumadin (warfarin) Lovenox (enoxaparin) Rapid blood loss can cause anemia, which is a lack of red blood cell volume. Symptoms include:FatigueFeeling dizzy or lightheadedPale skin colorConfusionRapid heartbeatChest painIf you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 or go to the emergency room at once. Your Bloody Nose Was Caused by Severe Trauma Trauma, especially a blow to the head, can make a bloody nose an emergency. Minor bumps or falls that cause a bloody nose are probably not serious. Major incidents like falling down stairs, sports accidents, and fights can cause a bloody nose that becomes a medical emergency. A severe injury to the nose may swell and make breathing difficult. You may have a broken nose, a concussion (brain injury), or a spinal cord injury. It is always best to seek emergency medical care after a major accident. You Have High Blood Pressure A bloody nose that is caused by high blood pressure is an emergency. These nosebleeds happen without any particular trigger. If you get a nosebleed and you have a history of high blood pressure, contact your healthcare provider. This is especially important if you also have a headache, chest pain, or faintness. You Can Taste Blood Bloody noses towards the front of the nose are usually less severe. These bleeds can usually be stopped with pressure. If you can taste blood, you may have a posterior bleed—that is, one that comes from the back of the nose. Posterior nosebleeds are often more severe. They cannot be stopped by pinching your nostrils. They also tend to be from major blood vessels. Seek emergency care at once of you have this type of nosebleed. You Have More Than One Nosebleed a Week If your nosebleeds happen more than once a week, see a healthcare provider. Recurring nosebleeds can be a sign of something more serious, such as: High blood pressureA clotting disorderNasal polypsImmune thrombocytopenia, an autoimmune condition characterized by reduced plateletsHereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, a rare genetic condition Certain cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, or nasal and sinus cancer Summary Bloody noses are usually not serious. Most can be stopped if you lean forward and gently pinch your nostrils. In some cases, a bloody nose can be an emergency. If your nose bleeds for longer than 20 minutes or you lose a lot much blood, get emergency help. You should also seek emergency care if you were in a serious accident, have high blood pressure, or can taste blood. Frequently Asked Questions What are common causes of nosebleeds? Most bloody noses aren't anything to worry about. These often occur due to:DehydrationCold, dry airSeasonal or environmental allergiesNose picking Can a sinus infection cause a bloody nose? Yes. Inflammation from a sinus infection can irritate nasal tissue and cause a nosebleed. Frequent nose-blowing can also prompt the nose to bleed. Learn More: Could You Have a Sinus Infection? 6 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Beck R, Sorge M, Schneider A, Dietz A. Current approaches to epistaxis treatment in primary and secondary care. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(1-02):12-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0012 Murer K, Ahmad N, Roth BA, Holzmann D, Soyka MB. THREAT helps to identify epistaxis patients requiring blood transfusions. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013;42:4. doi:10.1186/1916-0216-42-4 Pacagnella RC, Souza JP, Durocher J, et al. A systematic review of the relationship between blood loss and clinical signs. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(3):e57594. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057594 Nakamura H, Fujinaka T, Tasaki O, Yoshimine T. Delayed massive epistaxis from traumatic intracranial aneurysm after blunt facial injury. Acute Med Surg. 2017;4(1):131-134. doi:10.1002/ams2.239 Chuda RR, Castillo SM, Poddutoori P. Hypertensive crises. Hosp Med Clin. 2014;3(1):e111-e127. doi: 10.1016/j.ehmc.2013.09.002 Krajina A, Chrobok V. Radiological diagnosis and management of epistaxis. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2014;37(1):26-36. doi:10.1007/s00270-013-0776-y Additional Reading MedlinePlus. Nosebleed. Updated September 1, 2021. By Kristin Hayes, RN Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit