Can you die from a nosebleed?

A nosebleed, otherwise known as Epistaxis, may seem benign but can be fatal.


Asked by: Kadim Olzhas, Kazakhstan

Most nosebleeds involve superficial bleeding from the capillaries close to the skin and can be stopped with pressure and an ice pack.

But nosebleeds can also be caused by a torn internal carotid artery and in that case the bleeding can be fast enough to be life threatening.

It’s also possible for a milder nosebleed to block your airway and asphyxiate you. A 47-year-old man from Gravesend, Kent died this way in 2011.

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