The most common causes of nosebleeds are dryness of the nasal mucosa and nose picking. Interestingly, what doctors notice is that people tend to pick their nose more frequently when mucus in the nose is dry and crusty. Frequent nosebleeds may indicate a more serious problem. Patients with leukaemia, for instance, may present with nosebleeds and bruising. Some people may have frequent nosebleeds if they have low blood platelets or a blood clotting disorder. Nosebleeds can also be a sign of a nasal tumour.
Iron is a mineral that is important not only to all the cells in our body, but it is especially important to red blood cells. Red blood cells make haemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the tissues in our bodies. Iron levels are 40-150 ug/dL (female) and 50-160 ug/dL (male). However, it is important to realise that normal values may vary from laboratory to laboratory. Iron deficiency anaemia occurs when there is a lack of iron in the body, causing primarily a low haemoglobin concentration.
The most common cause of iron deficiency is bleeding or blood loss, usually from the gastrointestinal tract. Other causes include a lack of iron in the diet or changes in a woman’s body due to pregnancy.
People who bruise or bleed easily, and develop anaemia, may have problems with how their blood clots. If a person notices that he tends to bruise or bleed easily, it is important to seek medical attention. The person may have an underlying problem with platelets or a blood clotting disorder. Some would notice tiny red dots on the skin, called petechiae (pe-TEEK- ee-ay). These are commonly found on the lower legs. Petechiae is a sign of low platelets and the doctor would need to consider many possible causes.
