Almost all of us are familiar with nose bleeds since we have probably experienced them at some point or the other, especially as kids. For many of us, bleeding from the nose is little more than an annoying inconvenience, which we immediately control with the help of a few simple home remedies. However, frequent nose bleeds should not be left unchecked, as they could be an indication of a more serious, underlying health condition. Some of the worrisome causes of nose bleeds include high blood pressure, tumors, trauma, hardened arteries and dehydration. There is also a correlation between a nosebleed and cancer; recurring nose bleeds are often a symptom of certain types of cancer.
Your nasal cavity consists of various elements, like bone, cartilage, connective tissue, blood vessels and an overlapping skin layer. Genetic mutation in the cells of any of these components could lead to the formation of a malignant tumor. The presence of cancer cells in the sinuses or nasal cavities often triggers off bleeding from the nose.
Frequent nose bleeds are one of the earlier symptoms of sinus or nasal cancer. In case you are suffering from this condition, you will probably notice bleeding from one nostril only. Some of the other common symptoms of nasal cancer include a blocked or runny nose, visual disturbance and headaches.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a type of cancer that occurs in the nasopharynx may also lead to symptoms like a bloody discharge from the nose.
Leukemia can be described as a group of blood cancers, which affect the white blood cells in your body. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common forms of leukemia, which affects the white blood cells circulating in your body, as well as the ones within the bone marrow.
According to the University of California, San Diego, the development of CLL can cause you to experience nose bleeds that are frequent and quite heavy. In addition to a severe nose bleed, you may also suffer from other symptoms like weight loss, nausea, fatigue, recurring infections, enlarged lymph nodes, easy bruising and bleeding gums.
Hodgkin's lymphoma, previously known as Hodgkin's disease is a rare form of cancer, which affects your lymphatic system. This condition causes the cells in your lymphatic system to grow abnormally and spread to other parts of the body. Hodgkin's lymphoma has an adverse effect on your body's ability to fight off infections.
According to the Macmillan Cancer Support, patients suffering from this type of cancer often experience heavy nosebleeds, in addition to other bleeding disorders. Hodgkin's lymphoma may also cause a person to experience other symptoms like tiredness, fever, chills, weight loss, itching and night sweats.
Hepatocellular carcinoma, also known as liver cancer, is one of the most common types of cancer across the globe. It can be described as malignancy that begins in the cells of the liver. Patients suffering from liver cancer do not usually show any major symptoms in the initial stages. As the condition progresses to the third or fourth stage, it can lead to signs and symptoms like weight loss, lack of appetite, pain in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, weakness, jaundice, swelling in the abdomen, whitish stools and so on. Liver cancer nose bleeds are only likely to occur when the disease progresses to the fourth state.
Of course, not all instances of recurring nose bleeds are an indication of cancer. Nevertheless, it is best for you to consult a doctor and rule out the possibility of cancer in case you experience frequent nose bleeds.
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