nosebleeds from climbing

[Dennis_Harmon]

I've noted that every time I go climbing I undergo a virtually life-threatening nose bleed. Has anyone else seen a correlation between nose bleeds and climbing? I'd appreciate any responses from people who's noses have bled either while they were climbing, or soon afterwards. Dennis

[joekania]

The lower air pressure at altitude can actually create a negative pressure situation on the capillaries in your nose, causing them to rupture. Rarely serious (I'm surprised at your experience with them) and not uncommon. You can't change that, really, so I don't know if you have options. I used to take aspirin for climbs above 12,000 feet to combat the mild headaches I would get and found the nosebleeds (mine are very slight) seemed to stop. I don't have any scientific verification for aspirin being a remedy, but it seemed to have an effect on me. May be something to ask your doctor about, could be a low clotting factor level, which can be serious.

[Dennis_Harmon]

Joekania, According to your suggestions I don't really have any options except to give up climbing altogether or to take aspirin which (I'm told by my doctor) will only exacerbate my nose bleeding problem. Any other suggestions? Dennis

[vegetablebelay]

I would guess that if you talked less smack you'd receive fewer bloody noses. Just a thought.

[Off_White]

 

When I was a child and had nosebleeds, I fiercely denied nosepicking was the cause. (at this distant remove, I can't honestly recall, but since I'm an adult now, I assume it was nosepicking). Anyhow, to the topic at hand, my parents always threaten cauterizing as the cure for incessant inexplicable nosebleed.

[Cpt.Caveman]

The only thing I pick is my butt right before I shook allison's hand

[gapertimmy]

have you tried using the moisturizing mist spray thingies? Perhaps the bleeds are caused by yer nose getting too dry as well. Does it happen more in the winter or summer times?

 

my nose bleeds pretty often in the winter, because it is so dry down here.

[Dennis_Harmon]

gapertimmy, Hey thank's for the suggestion about the nasal mist spray thingies. I've been using the "Junior Miss" brand of tampons and have had to breath through my mouth. Dennis

[gapertimmy]

damn, nothing like having a snatch patch up ones nose. i once had an ENT specialist look up my big ol nose, and was amazed at the size of my veins, i think he took pictures even, perhaps the insides of my nose are printed in some book somewhere, and some gaper in med school has to look at it.

 

My other publishing claim to fame.... My picture is in a Boy Scout handbook, I forgot which edition, but i'm in there, in all of my glory. I think i weighed around 240lbs and was a freshman in HS. Thank god for the subway diet

[David_Parker]

My son gets nose bleeds regularly. If they don't stop with normal nose pinching, the doctor said to use nasal spray (decongestant). It works!

[Trillian]

Aspirin (and other pain relievers) have a side effect of thinning the blood. On the one hand I'd think this would decrease the frequency of nosebleeds since maybe it decreases blood pressure in the capillaries.....on the other hand I'd guess that once you got one it might make the bleeding worse since it won't coagulate as fast.

 

Just a thought, I don't really know though.