Health
Ask a doctor: 'Why am I getting nosebleeds and how can I stop them?'
![Ask a doctor: 'Why am I getting nosebleeds and how can I stop them?' Ask a doctor: 'Why am I getting nosebleeds and how can I stop them?'](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/nosebleed-split.jpg)
Having a nosebleed can be a startling and somewhat scary experience, but medical experts say the condition is generally not serious.
“Nosebleeds are quite common, and over half of the population will experience them at some point,” David A. Gudis, M.D., chief of rhinology and anterior skull base surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, told Fox News Digital.
“Most nosebleeds are not major medical emergencies, but they can be alarming and occasionally quite dangerous.”
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Here’s what to know.
What causes nosebleeds?
The lining of the nasal cavity (the “mucosa”) has a very robust blood supply, and various causes can lead to bleeding from this area, according to Gudis.
Having a nosebleed can be startling and somewhat scary, but medical experts say the condition is generally not serious. (iStock)
“In children, the front of the nasal cavity is susceptible to irritation from doing what everybody does – nose-picking,” he said.
In adults, this area of the nose can become dry, resulting in a thinning of the mucosa over these blood vessels.
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Another cause, Gudis said, could be a deviated septum, which is when the wall that separates the left and right sides of the nose is off-center or crooked.
This “can cause the airflow in the nose to be more turbulent, which can further dry out the front of the nose,” the doctor said.
![Woman with tissue](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/woman-with-tissue.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
“Nosebleeds are quite common, and over half of the population will experience them at some point,” a doctor said. (iStock)
Trauma or injury to the nose — such as getting hit in the face with a ball or being involved in an accident of some type — can also result in nosebleeds, he added.
Medical issues are another potential trigger.
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“These may include uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure), anticoagulant medication (blood thinners) and bleeding/clotting disorders,” Gudis told Fox News Digital.
Beyond these reasons, a person’s environment may be the culprit.
![Girl blowing nose](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/kid-blowing-nose.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
“In children, the front of the nasal cavity is susceptible to irritation from doing what everybody does – nose-picking,” a doctor said. (iStock)
One common cause of nosebleeds is dry indoor air, said Natasha Bhuyan, M.D., a family physician with One Medical in Phoenix, Arizona.
“We tend to see this the most in the wintertime,” she told Fox News Digital.
One way to prevent this is to use a humidifier.
“Most nosebleeds are not major medical emergencies, but they can be alarming and occasionally dangerous.”
In terms of overall prevention, it’s best to stay hydrated and keep the nasal passage moist, experts advise.
“Also, avoid picking inside your nose — and, of course, people should avoid smoking tobacco,” added Bhuyan.
How to stop a nosebleed
“Holding pressure” is a simple and very effective solution to most nosebleeds, according to Gudis.
“The key is to hold pressure where the nose becomes soft, to pinch it closed,” he said.
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In many cases, individuals don’t know the best protocol to stop a nosebleed.
“Many people are erroneously instructed to pinch the ‘bridge’ of the nose — but squeezing the hard nasal bones does not transmit pressure to the actual source of bleeding,” Gudis noted.
When to seek medical care
If the bleeding is persistent, heavy and doesn’t stop — or if you start to have other symptoms, such as lightheadedness or nausea — it’s best to seek medical attention right away, advised Gudis.
![ENT](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/ENT.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
If the bleeding is persistent, heavy and doesn’t stop — or if you start to have other symptoms, such as lightheadedness or nausea — it’s best to seek medical attention right away, experts advise. (iStock)
If nosebleeds occur frequently or take a long time to stop, don’t hesitate to seek medical care with an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose and throat specialist), he said.
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“In the office, we can use small nasal endoscopes to identify the source of bleeding,” Gudis told Fox News Digital.
In some cases, he said, patients require surgery to cauterize the blood supply to certain parts of the nose.
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Health
Ask a doctor: ‘Can I be dehydrated even if I’m not thirsty?’
![Ask a doctor: ‘Can I be dehydrated even if I’m not thirsty?’ Ask a doctor: ‘Can I be dehydrated even if I’m not thirsty?’](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/woman-running.jpg)
While dehydration is often associated with being thirsty, that’s not the only warning sign our bodies share with us.
The condition can occur when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, which can impact the body’s ability to perform its normal functions, say experts.
The body loses fluids and water through sweating and urination, according to Cleveland Clinic.
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“In warm and hot weather in particular, your body loses water and fluid faster,” Mike Sevilla, M.D., a family physician with Salem Family Care in Salem, Ohio, told Fox News Digital.
“If these fluids are not replaced, the body becomes dehydrated.”
Water is lost when you sweat, so if you’re engaging in vigorous activity and don’t replace fluids, you can become dehydrated. (iStock)
Although anyone can become dehydrated, it can be especially dangerous for vulnerable groups, such as young children and the elderly.
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5 surprising symptoms of dehydration
Doctors shared with Fox News Digital some of the signs of dehydration that go beyond thirst.
1. Sweating
It may come as a surprise that excessive sweating could be an indicator of dehydration.
Water is lost when you sweat, so if you’re engaging in vigorous activity and don’t replace fluids, you can become dehydrated, according to Mayo Clinic’s website.
![Man coughing](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/04/1200/675/man-coughing.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Illness is an often overlooked cause of dehydration, often leading to a depletion of fluids. (iStock)
“In heat and humidity, we lose more water in the form of perspiration, which is what triggers the body to tell the brain that it needs water and the actual feeling of thirst,” Lauren Fine, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist with Fine Dermatology in Chicago, told Fox News Digital.
2. Sickness
Illness is an often overlooked cause of dehydration. With excessive vomiting or diarrhea, the body can quickly become depleted of fluids — especially with younger people and older adults, Sevilla said.
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“Having a fever or an infection can also lead to dehydration, because fever can cause you to sweat and thereby lose fluid,” he cautioned.
3. Fatigue
One of the initial signs of dehydration is fatigue.
![girl lying on sofa](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/01/1200/675/fatigue-covid-19.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Fatigue is one of the early signs of dehydration, according to experts. (iStock)
“People usually ignore this symptom, thinking that they are just tired,” Sevilla said — but it can progress to dizziness and lightheadedness.
To combat fatigue, he recommends consuming beverages with electrolytes to boost energy levels.
4. Dark urine
If your urine is amber- or honey-colored, or dark orange, this may indicate that your body isn’t getting enough water, according to Health.com.
“If you’re dehydrated and are holding onto more of the actual water itself, the urine will become darker and darker,” Michael A Palese, M.D., chair of the Department of Urology at Mount Sinai in New York, told Health.com.
5. Skin changes
Dehydrated skin can look dull and dry, and can also show premature signs of aging, such as surface wrinkles.
![Woman with skin inflammation](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/10/1200/675/woman-skin-inflammation.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Changes in the skin can be a symptom of dehydration, experts say. (iStock)
“Skin cells need water to survive,” said Fine.
To keep the skin hydrated, she recommends drinking water while working out, reducing intake of coffee and other caffeinated beverages, and eating more fruits, vegetables and legumes.
When to seek medical attention
The longer dehydration continues without intake of sufficient fluids, the worse the symptoms become, according to Sevilla.
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Severe dehydration leads to dizziness, confusion, increased heart rate and low blood pressure, the physician said.
“The more severe the case of dehydration is, the more difficult it is for people to drink enough fluid to help the situation,” he said.
![hiospital room room IV pole](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2020/11/1200/675/iStock-1215243437.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
In cases of severe hydration, an individual may need to visit the hospital or emergency department to receive fluids via IV. (iStock)
In cases of severe hydration, the person may need to visit the hospital or emergency department to receive fluids via IV.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
Both doctors emphasized the importance of being proactive and drinking water or electrolyte-containing fluids before exercising or playing sports.
Health
FDA approves new blood test for colon cancer screening: ‘Early detection is critical’
![FDA approves new blood test for colon cancer screening: ‘Early detection is critical’ FDA approves new blood test for colon cancer screening: ‘Early detection is critical’](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/Hand-Holding-Vial-Near-Microscope-scaled.jpg)
Screening for the second leading cause of cancer deaths just got a bit easier.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of a new blood test for colorectal cancer (CRC).
Shield, made by Guardant Health in California, is the first approved blood test that is considered a primary screening option for the disease and meets Medicare coverage requirements, the company stated.
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The FDA’s approval, announced Tuesday, follows a large clinical trial that included 20,000 average-risk adults, which found that Shield had an 83% sensitivity for the detection of CRC.
Those findings were published in The New England Journal of Medicine in March.
Shield, made by Guardant Health in California, is the first approved blood test that is considered a primary screening option for the disease and meets Medicare coverage requirements, the company stated. (Guardant Health)
There is another approved blood test, Epigenomics’ Epi proColon, but it is a second-line screening option, which means it can only be given to patients who have been offered first-line options and have a history of not completing CRC screening, according to Michael Weist, a spokesperson from Guardant Health.
Robert Smith, PhD, senior vice president of Early Cancer Detection Science for the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, confirmed that Shield is the only blood test currently available for colorectal cancer screening.
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“It compares favorably with other colorectal cancer screening tests,” such as colonoscopy, CT colonography and stool tests, Smith, who is not affiliated with Guardant, told Fox News Digital.
“The test … likely will be more appealing to people who have never been screened, or not recently screened,” he added.
![Guardant Health blood test](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/Guardant-Health-Laboratory-with-Male-Technician-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The FDA’s approval follows a large clinical trial that included 20,000 average-risk adults, which found that Shield had an 83% sensitivity for the detection of colorectal cancer. (Guardant Health)
The key advantage of the blood test is that it can be done during a routine doctor’s appointment without the need for prepping or taking an entire day off from work.
“It offers the potential to detect colorectal cancer in a person who is non-adherent with screening recommendations, asymptomatic and willing to get this test based on preference, convenience or both,” Smith said.
“Compared to colonoscopy, it is simpler and less time-consuming.”
Shield has shown “reasonable sensitivity and specificity compared to other blood/stool tests,” according to Dr. Shuji Ogino, chief of the Molecular Pathological Epidemiology program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which is a member of Mass General Brigham in Boston.
“Compared to colonoscopy, it is simpler and less time-consuming,” Ogino, who is not associated with Guardant, told Fox News Digital.
Risks and limitations
While the risks of the Shield test have not been studied in a population of regular users, they are likely to be minimal, according to ACS’ Smith.
“However, the Shield test does not offer the same level of benefit to prevent colorectal cancer by detecting and removing precursor lesions (polyps), which is a significant benefit from regular screening with the currently recommended tests,” Smith cautioned.
![Guardant Health](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/GuardantHealth_HQ_Exterior-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The Shield blood test is made by Guardant Health, which is based in Redwood City, California. (Guardant Health)
That downside would be offset by more unscreened people choosing to get screenings, he noted.
“The Shield blood test does have a lower degree of sensitivity than the Cologard stool test for detecting colon cancer,” Stephen Grabelsky, M.D., a hematologist and medical oncologist at the Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, told Fox News Digital.
The test is only intended for people with a standard risk for colon cancer, which excludes patients with a family history of colon cancer or a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, Grabelsy added. (He also was not involved in the test’s development.)
Early detection is key
The compliance rate for colorectal cancer screenings is only about 59% — well below the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable’s goal of 80% for eligible individuals, according to Weist.
The test is expected to be commercially available by this fall.
“More than one out of three eligible Americans – over 50 million people – do not complete CRC screenings, often due to the perception that other available options, such as colonoscopies or stool-based tests, are invasive, unpleasant or inconvenient,” he said.
When detected early, colon cancer has a relative survival rate of 91% — compared to just 14% if the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body.
“Early detection is critical,” Weist said. “The most effective screening test is the test that gets done.”
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The Shield test is indicated for colorectal cancer screening in individuals age 45 and older who have an average risk for the disease, he told Fox News Digital.
The test is expected to be commercially available by this fall.
![CRC stats](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/1-in-3-Americans-Not-Screened-for-CRC-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The Shield test is indicated for colorectal cancer screening in individuals 45 and older who are at average risk for the disease. (Guardant Health)
Patients interested in the Shield test should discuss the benefits and limitations with a health care provider before making a choice, Smith recommended, and should also determine whether their insurance will cover it.
“It is important to appreciate that a colorectal cancer screening test that is positive is not complete until the patient has had a colonoscopy,” Smith noted.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
“Any non-colonoscopy screening test for colorectal cancer that is positive must be followed up with a colonoscopy.”
Health
'Loner' telltale signs, plus Alzheimer's announcements and Olympics safety concerns
!['Loner' telltale signs, plus Alzheimer's announcements and Olympics safety concerns 'Loner' telltale signs, plus Alzheimer's announcements and Olympics safety concerns](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/health-nl-7-31.jpg)
Thomas Matthew Crooks (center) was described by classmates as an “outcast” who was always alone and was “bullied every day.” (Bethel Park School District; iStock)
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![Seine River Olympics 2024](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/seine-river-swimmers.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Triathlon athletes compete and swim in the Seine River during a test event for the women’s triathlon for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Click below to get experts’ take on concerns about the river’s water quality. (Getty Images)
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Experts agreed that the high-pressure nature of the presidency could pose “significant health risks” for President Joe Biden. (Getty Images)
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