Severe nose bleed: So I woke up this... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Severe nose bleed

micwal93 profile image
21 Replies

So I woke up this morning with a terrible nose bleed which took the best part of 15 minutes to subside. I used to have nose bleeds quite regularly when growing up but I haven't had one for about 2 years or just under.

Could this be related to AF, or any other heart condition? Anyone else have any experience with this?

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micwal93 profile image
micwal93
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21 Replies
Finvola profile image
Finvola

Nosebleeds are scary but the fact that it stopped within 15 minutes is a plus. I've been having bleeds lasting from 40 minutes to 2 hours, caused by an allergy and made worse by my anticoagulant. During these bleeds I have seen various doctors and specialists and at no time did they tie the bleeds to AF or any of my arrhythmias. The investigations concentrated on blood pressure to ensure it was not high, blood count and my AC (Apixaban).

As you've had bleeds before, it might be a good idea to mention their return to your GP as it could be something as simple as nasal drying or sensitivity to dust.

micwal93 profile image
micwal93 in reply toFinvola

Thanks again for your advice! Yeah nose bleeds are scary, and the fact it didn't last long is positive. My symptoms have definitely improved over the last few days, except slight light-headedness, which could be due to the bisoprolol.

didunth profile image
didunth in reply tomicwal93

I take Xarelto - this is not very relevant. Last year when I was on holiday in Albi I had a nosebleed which reoccurred later during the night and stopped in about 20 minutes. In the morning , I went to a pharmacy who conferred with a local doctor who said go to the urgences room of the local hospital. I did so, told my tale, had an ECG, blood sample taken and waited to hear what to do. After they had analysed the blood - all normal, they said they didn't have an ORL dept there (ear, nose and throat), there was one at a local clinic and made an an appointment in an hours time. I went there. The doctor said I had a small papilloma in the right nostril and cauterized it with formic acid. I haven't had any problem subsequently. When I saw the cardiologist she said that nosebleeds are very common and can be treated either with acid or surgically. What I had wasn't at all unusual. Obviously if one is on anticoagulants one will bleed for longer. Before I had AF I had occasional nosebleeds, not frequently (I can remember about 4 or 5 in 50 years) but I cannot say it never happened. Go to your GP say what happened, get referred to a ENT department.

PeterWh profile image
PeterWh in reply tomicwal93

Is your BP low? That can cause light headiness.

micwal93 profile image
micwal93 in reply toPeterWh

Just taken it and it's 114 over 67, is that all right?

PeterWh profile image
PeterWh in reply tomicwal93

Was that with a cuff monitor or a wrist monitor?

micwal93 profile image
micwal93 in reply toPeterWh

Cuff monitor.

PeterWh profile image
PeterWh in reply tomicwal93

Great because they are so much more accurate.

I am in persistent AF. I was feeling feint and lethargic and was (and am) taking BP daily. Mine was quite often say 90 to 100 / 65 to 75 and thought that was "healthy". However I went to GP and she said for someone with no health problems that would be ok but for someone like me in persistent AF she really wanted it to be around the 120 / 80 normal. She reduced Bisoprolol by 1.25mg to start it moving up.

A key thing that my GP said was the actual numbers both normal and low/high do vary quite a bit from person to person and also the effect of low BP (ie at xx/yy one person may feel very feint and lethargic whereas another will feel fine even if the levels of fitness are similar.

I am not medically qualified in any way so can't advise. Yours appears to be OK on the diabolic number but perhaps a little low on the systolic side. I think it is worth a call to GP. They may deal with it over the phone of may ask you to go in. The latter may not be 100% effective if you suffer from white coat syndrome. Also get to the surgery 15 mins early so you are fully relaxed and rested. That way you get specific guidance for you based on your medical condition (and also your GP's particular thoughts and preferences).

micwal93 profile image
micwal93 in reply toPeterWh

Yeah I'm not sure whether it's high or low for me. I'll inform the doctor about it when I see him next Wednesday. However, if it is only 'a little low', surely that can't pose too many problems as far as light-headedness is concerned? Also I doubt the doctor will do anything about it if it is negligible.

PeterWh profile image
PeterWh in reply tomicwal93

Well I certainly feel better now mine is creeping up a bit.

However it is very much the case that one person with AF might feel ok at those levels and the next person with AF might almost be blacking out. Also it could affect the same person differently from day to day at the same numbers each day!!! Suggest you take your BP and HB daily at say 7.30 am and 7.30pm and log how you feel.

Also when you are actually in AF your circulation is impaired so that can have an effect as well.

For me my GP would consider it quite a bit low as she wants 120 / 80.

I am seeing he again next week.

micwal93 profile image
micwal93 in reply toPeterWh

I see, I'm already on the lowest dose of bisoprolol so I don't know the answer. I think it may be important to note that I felt lightheaded before I started taking the bisoprolol and back then my BP was between 120/75 -145/80.

I will start takingetting my bp/hr in morning and night. I'm not in persistent AF either so this whole thing is a bit of a mystery. I'm of the opinion that my anxiety is to blame for most of my problems. I've never actually felt properly dizzy so I don't know how much of my light-headedness is real.

PeterWh profile image
PeterWh in reply tomicwal93

1.25mg is the lowest. My GP said that there are alternatives that don't lower BP (Bisoprolol does lower BP a little).

micwal93 profile image
micwal93 in reply toPeterWh

Been thinking about asking the doctor about flecanaide, heard it's been very successful in many people with paroxysmal AF, but I'm also keen to ask him about propranolol, because I've heard that lowers anxiety as well as heart palpitations.

PeterWh profile image
PeterWh in reply tomicwal93

Bisoprolol is a rate control medicine which has a side effect of lowering BP a little.

Flecainide is a rthythm control medicine. Read up on it from previous posts on here because of potential side effects. Some people get none.

Even though I am in persistent AF I do not take anything for rhythm control.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply toPeterWh

Peter some people would kill for BP like that! I get light headed at anything less than 130/80! Love the typo by the way. DIABOLIC> just about says it all. ha ha

PeterWh profile image
PeterWh in reply toBobD

Yes I know some people would but it makes me so lethargic, etc. Some days OK around 115to120 / 75to80 then wham down again!!!

Spelling autocorrect strikes again!!!

PeterWh profile image
PeterWh in reply toBobD

Just taken BP - 96 / 66 so well down.

teach2learn profile image
teach2learn

First line of defence against nosebleeds should be a good humidifier, especially in the winter when furnaces are drying the air so much more. Of course, I live in a desert, so it goes without saying, but running a humidifier in the bedroom all night does wonders and something docs around here always recommend for winter nosebleeds. Be careful with ephedrine-type medicines, too, for colds, etc. Doses too close together can bring on a nosebleed.

Annekw profile image
Annekw

It is important to know,blood pressure varies throughout the day!

PeterWh profile image
PeterWh

Thanks but yes I know that.

My problem is that when it is a down day it's a down day for some reason. Was 96/66 at 09:15 then went for a mile and a bit walk and was breathless. Took BP straight away and it was up to 104/73. However half an hour later dropped to 99/66.

micwal93 profile image
micwal93 in reply toPeterWh

I've just been for a brisk walk with my dog and taken blood pressure afterwards, it was 130/72, is this normal? I felt a little lightheaded

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