More than 50% of the US adult population drinks coffee on a daily basis, and when you include soft drinks, black tea, and energy drinks, the US becomes one of the biggest caffeine consuming nations in the world.
In small doses, caffeine is perfectly harmless and may actually provide some health benefits. But it’s still a stimulant, there are adverse reactions, and some individuals are more susceptible to these than others.
We all know that excessive caffeine consumption can make you jittery and restless, and if it’s consumed throughout the day it could also cause insomnia and agitation. But what about nosebleeds?
Could your excessive nosebleeds be connected to your caffeine consumption and, if so, why?
Can Stimulants Cause Nosebleeds?
Amphetamines, cocaine, and other controlled stimulants have a significant impact on your physiology. They can increase your blood pressure, cause your blood vessels to constrict, and place undue pressure on your heart.
This increases the risk of nose bleeds, as your nose is home to very thin and delicate capillaries, and it doesn’t take much for these to rupture and bleed.
The problem is amplified by intranasal consumption, as it can dry and irritate the nasal passages.
Can Caffeine Cause Nosebleeds?
Caffeine, like amphetamines, is a stimulant that produces physical and mental effects. It’s consumed orally and while the effects are nowhere as strong as illegal drugs, it can still produce some of the same adverse reactions, including nosebleeds.
The difference is that caffeine dries out your body, sucking the moisture out of your mucus membranes and leaving your nasal passages exposed. Blood pressure increases can also occur, although this is typically only a major problem when large doses are consumed, or the user has a very low tolerance.
Summary: Caffeine Can Cause Nosebleeds
Caffeine is a drug. It might not be as strong as some illegal alternatives, but it still changes your physiology and can produce a host of side effects.
It’s not something to be taken lightly, and just because you can find large doses in energy drinks and coffee doesn’t mean you’re safe to drink as much as you want.
Death from caffeine overdose is rare but not unheard of. Furthermore, the country’s growing obsession with energy drinks has seen a marked increase in the number of caffeine-related cardiac episodes, and these can occur at any age and in otherwise healthy individuals.
You don’t need to abstain from your daily cup of coffee or tea, but if you’re suffering from any adverse reactions, you should reduce your dose and talk to a medical professional about any troubling side effects.
