When one suffers a nosebleed without any apparent cause or explanation, they may wonder if the beginning of a stroke or TIA can be causing this.
The most common causes of blood dripping from the nose, other than the obvious trauma, is very dry air, picking the nose and an infection.
An extreme spike in blood pressure can also cause bleeding, as seen in strongman athletes straining to lift enormous amounts of weight.
Less commonly, chronic high blood pressure can cause a recurring nosebleed. Interestingly, chronic hypertension is a leading risk factor for a stroke or transient ischemic attack.
“Nosebleeds are almost never a primary stroke or TIA,” says Atif Zafar, MD, medical director of St. Michaels Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, and former director of the stroke program at University of New Mexico Hospital.
Classic Stroke Symptoms (all are sudden-onset)
• One side of the face drooping
• One-sided facial paralysis or numbness
• Difficulty with speech
• One-sided body paralysis, heaviness or numbness
• Double vision or other visual disturbance
• Cognitive impairment
About that Bloody Nose…
You have to remember that when a nose bleeds, the source is the very tiny capillaries in the nasal cavity.
They can rupture quite easily, even from hard nose blowing or allergies.
Dr. Zafar also explains, “Patients who are on aspirin or other blood thinners like Warfarin, Eliquis or Xarelto often present with nosebleeds, but that is more of a side effect from blood thinners rather than a stroke per se.”
