Bloody Mucus in Nose – High Blood Pressure, Infection or Cancer?
Nasal mucus is incredibly important. It keeps the sinus cavity lubricated and moisturized which can prevent drying out. And, it also serves as an important tool to help flush away bacteria and dirt which can help prevent illness. But, sometimes nasal mucus can be a nuisance. Volume increases dramatically when illness is present and running and stuffy noses resulting from too much or too thick mucus. Most of the time, clear mucus from nose areas is the norm. But, occasionally, bloody mucus in nose areas can occur and can be alarming. There are many causes of this happening, and some of them may be rather surprising.
One of the most common reasons for bloody mucus in nose areas is simply too much activity. When infection is present, (as well as allergies or other illness) the nose can be a hotbed of activity. The sensitive nostril areas can bleed and become laden with minor injuries as a result of all of the blowing and sniffling and snuffling. This can lead to bloody mucus in nose areas when the blood resulting from this minimal trauma is mixed in with regular clear mucus. And, when blood dries, mucus color can change again, becoming tinged with shades of brown or dark red when dislodged from the nasal area. Therefore brown mucus from nose areas is not uncommon during times of illness or other nose maladies.
Interestingly enough, one common cause of bloody mucus in nose areas is high blood pressure. While the blood vessels and the nose seem hardly related in any pertinent way, Kaiser Permanente points out that high blood pressure can cause nosebleeds, which can result in bloody mucus discharge. What can cause this is the perfect storm of adjacent occurrences. For instance, when the nose becomes dry, small cracks and minuscule injuries to the inside of the nose can occur. And, a ride in blood pressure can cause them to bleed, which can lead to a full blow bloody nose as well as bloody mucus discharge.
Most of the common causes of bloody mucus in nose areas are relatively mild and are easy to identify and the resulting symptoms are easily manageable. Everyday irritants can lead to nostril damage that can in turn produce bloody mucus. But, while common causes are abundant, there are unfortunately some uncommon, rare and very serious causes of mucus from the nose that contains blood.
Cancer.net points out that bloody mucus in nose areas can be a symptom of sinus cancer, including cancer of the paranasal cavity. What’s worse is that the signals that can accompany this common symptom are often easily attributable to common illnesses like sinus infections. Headaches and facial pain and swelling can occur and so can watery eyes. However, there are other symptoms of sinus cancer that can include bloody nasal mucus that are less common such as loosening of the teeth and a noticeable lump that can provide additional clues to whether or not a more sinister cause is related to the bloody mucosal matter.
In most cases, sources of bloody mucus in nose areas are related to common and everyday occurrences. An allergy, cold or infection can often be to blame. And, irritation that can occur within the nostrils as a result of cracking and injury caused from dryness and blowing the nose are incredibly common causes of nasal bloody mucus. But, in some cases, the causes of the symptoms are more important and potential warning signs of medical problems. High blood pressure, which is often a lifelong and chronic condition, can have bloody nasal mucus as a symptom. And, very serious conditions such as cancer of the nasal region can also be a cause in rare cases. Regardless of what the suspected source is, it’s important to note that while some cases of bloody nasal mucus can be explained very easily – when it’s abundant, recurrent or persistent, it’s very important to seek prompt medical attention. It may just be the result of a serious underlying illness or health concern. Only a doctor can truly diagnose the cause of bloody mucus and if it’s accompanied by other troublesome symptoms or doesn’t resolve on its own swiftly, medical attention should be acquired.