What causes severe nose bleeds in adults?

Nosebleed Causes. Most commonly, trauma to the nose triggers a nosebleed. Trauma to the outside of the nose, such as a blow to the face, or trauma inside the nose, such as nose picking or repeated irritation from a cold, can cause a nosebleed. ... Abnormal blood vessels or cancers in the nose are rare causes of nosebleeds. read more

Causes of sudden nosebleeds in adults include trauma to the nose, picking at the nose or irritation from a cold, according to WebMD. It is also possible to get a sudden nose bleed due to the development of a disease. read more

Less common causes of nosebleeds include: Alcohol use; Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia; Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) Leukemia; Nasal and paranasal tumors; Nasal polyps; Nasal surgery; Pregnancy; In general, nosebleeds are not a symptom or result of high blood pressure. read more

There are two kinds of nosebleeds. An anterior nosebleed occurs when the blood vessels in the front of the nose break and bleed. A posterior nosebleed occurs in the back or the deepest part of the nose. In this case, blood flows down the back of the throat. Posterior nosebleeds can be dangerous. Causes of nosebleeds. There are many causes of nosebleeds. read more