Relation between alcohol and nose bleeds

Abstract

Nose bleeds in adults are the commonest reason for emergency admission to an otolaryngology ward, but the cause of the condition remains unknown. Case reports and clinical experience suggest an association between nose bleeds and regular, high alcohol consumption.1 The possibility that alcohol is a causal factor in nose bleeds is supported by evidence of profound cardiovascular and haemostatic effects producted by even moderate alcohol consumption. We conducted a prospective case- control study to compare the alcohol habits of adults with nose bleeds with those of controls being treated for other otorhinolaryngological conditions. The alcohol habits of 140 consecutive patients admitted with nose bleeds (79 men; mean age 54.5 years, range 23-93) were compared with those of 113 age and sex matched controls selected from patients being treated for otorhinolaryngological conditions other …