Can iron deficiency anemia cause nosebleeds?
Disease description:
I have always had iron deficiency anemia. Recently, I've been experiencing frequent nosebleeds, which have really scared me. I just want to ask if these nosebleeds could be caused by my iron deficiency anemia?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
In general, iron deficiency anemia does not directly cause nosebleeds, but it may have an indirect association with epistaxis.
Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body lacks sufficient iron, leading to impaired hemoglobin synthesis in red blood cells and consequently affecting the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity. Its main symptoms include palpitations, shortness of breath, and brittle nails, but nosebleeds are not typically among them.
If a patient with iron deficiency anemia also has dry nasal mucosa, nasal inflammation, or injury, the changes in blood quality caused by the anemia may reduce blood coagulation ability. This can make it more difficult to stop bleeding once minor blood vessels rupture, thereby increasing the risk of nosebleeds. If frequent nosebleeds occur in patients with iron deficiency anemia, timely medical evaluation is necessary to identify the underlying cause and provide appropriate treatment, along with active management of the anemia to improve blood quality.
In daily life, patients with iron deficiency anemia should keep their nasal passages moist and avoid forceful nose-blowing or picking the nose, which can help prevent nosebleeds.
