It was a typical morning. My mother was getting ready; this was her usual routine: bustling around the house. When she suddenly stopped and shouted, blood was oozing from her nose. As kids, my siblings and I were terrified. We scrambled to help, but it wasn't until later that we learned the cause of that alarming moment: high blood pressure. That day was our first lesson in the silent yet powerful effects of hypertension. Nosebleeds, or epistaxis, are common, and nearly everyone experiences at least one in their lifetime.

While most are minor and often caused by dry air or irritation, some can signal underlying health concerns. One recurring question is whether high blood pressure causes nosebleeds or is merely coincidental.

Where Exactly Does a Nosebleed Occur?

The nose is covered by a rich plexus of small blood vessels, making it prone to bleeding. Most nosebleeds are anterior in origin, occurring at the front of the nose, and are relatively benign. They often occur because of irritants such as dry air, frequent nose-blowing, or trauma.

On the other hand, posterior nosebleeds are caused by a source that is located deeper within the nasal cavity. They are less common but more severe, as the blood tends to flow backward into the throat, making them more difficult to control. Common causes of posterior nosebleeds include trauma, medical conditions, or high blood pressure.

Connection Between Nosebleeds and High Blood Pressure

Hypertension is the condition whereby the pressure of blood against the arterial walls is consistently too high. Over time, this may damage the fine blood vessels in the nose, causing them to rupture more easily.

Significant studies have shown a strong relationship between hypertension and severe cases of nosebleeds necessitating urgent care. A certain study showed that patients diagnosed with high blood pressure had 2.7-fold increased chances of having nosebleeds that were not slight.

However, it should be noted that mild hypertension by itself does not cause nosebleeds. Nosebleeds are more likely to happen during a hypertensive crisis when the blood pressure suddenly rises to above 180/120. A hypertensive crisis can also have other symptoms such as a severe headache, shortness of breath, and anxiety. Therefore, it is considered a medical emergency.

Why Does Hypertension Increase the Risk?

Chronic hypertension makes the walls of blood vessels weaker and less elastic, which easily causes them to tear. In the nose, this is especially vulnerable because the blood vessels are close to the surface. Sudden surges in blood pressure, such as in a hypertensive crisis, can cause tears in these weakened vessels, resulting in nosebleeds.

While hypertension is a contributing cause, nosebleeds occur infrequently as the only manifestation of high blood pressure. This makes regular monitoring for blood pressure all the more crucial, as hypertension has the reputation of being the "silent killer" since people often do not present symptoms until the disease has run its course.

Other Causes of Nosebleeds

• Dry Air: Cold weather or house heating dries out membranes that line the nose, hence susceptible to cracking.
• Trauma: Blows in the nose, nose picking or excessive nose blowing can traumatize blood vessels.
• Intrinsic Disease: Liver disease and kidney disease and drug therapy that affect clotting such as blood thinners enhance the risk of nose bleeding.
• Foreign Bodies: Children especially tend to insert objects up their noses, which can be irritating and bleed.
• Allergies or Infections: Chronic nasal inflammation resulting from allergies or colds causes irritation to the nasal mucosa.

Managing Nosebleeds at Home

For most nosebleeds, you can manage them yourself at home:

1. Sit up and lean slightly forward to prevent swallowing blood.

2. Press your nostrils together for at least 10 minutes.

3. Use a cold compress on the bridge of your nose to constrict blood vessels.

4. If the bleeding continues, use a nasal decongestant spray.

Consult a doctor if the bleeding persists beyond 20 minutes, is heavy, or follows a head injury.

Preventing Nosebleeds

Preventive measures can decrease the incidence of nosebleeds:

• Use a humidifier to maintain moisture in the air.
• Apply saline sprays or gels to keep nasal passages hydrated.
• Avoid nasal trauma by being gentle when blowing your nose.

For patients with hypertension, managing blood pressure is the best way to minimize the risk of complications. A combination of lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, and prescribed medications, can help keep blood pressure in check.

When to Worry About Nosebleeds

Most nosebleeds are harmless, but they can sometimes be signs of an underlying health condition. In adults with high blood pressure, frequent or severe nosebleeds should never be ignored. A health provider should be consulted in order to rule out any serious conditions and ensure appropriate treatment.

Regular check-ups, a healthy lifestyle, and awareness about the relationship between nosebleeds and high blood pressure would go a long way to protect your health. Indeed, prevention is always better than cure.

Epistaxis and hypertension. Post Graduate Medical Journal. 1977

Millions of people around the world undergo blood tests every year to measure LDL, commonly known as "bad" cholesterol. But researchers now suggest that this standard test may not always provide the most accurate picture of heart disease risk.

A new study from Northwestern Medicine found that a blood test measuring apolipoprotein B (ApoB) may be better than LDL cholesterol testing for identifying people who need more intensive treatment to reduce their risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The researchers also found that using ApoB to guide treatment decisions could prevent more cardiovascular events while remaining cost-effective for healthcare systems. The findings were published in the journal JAMA.

"We found that ApoB testing to intensify cholesterol-lowering medication would prevent more heart attacks and strokes than current practice, and that these health benefits were achieved at a cost that represents good value for US healthcare payers," said study lead author Ciaran Kohli-Lynch, Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine in the Division of Epidemiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

ApoB vs LDL: What's the Difference?

Also read: Confused By Your Cholesterol Report? Here's What LDL And ApoB Really Mean

Doctors have traditionally relied on LDL ("bad") cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol levels to assess heart disease risk and decide when patients should begin or intensify cholesterol-lowering treatment. While these tests provide useful information, researchers say they do not tell the whole story.

The difference lies in what the two tests measure:

• LDL cholesterol test: Measures the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood.
• ApoB test: Measures the number of cholesterol-carrying particles—including LDL and other potentially harmful particles—that can enter artery walls and contribute to plaque buildup.

"Research strongly shows that apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is better at identifying who is at risk because it counts the total number of harmful particles in the blood," Kohli-Lynch said.

According to the researchers, the number of harmful particles may provide a more accurate measure of cardiovascular risk than LDL cholesterol levels alone.

What Is ApoB?

Read More: US Cardiologist Explains Why 2026 AHA Cholesterol Guidelines Recommend Starting Young

In a post on X, Dr. Sudhir, Senior Consultant Neurologist at the Institute of Neurosciences, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, explained that ApoB is a protein found on potentially harmful cholesterol-carrying particles such as LDL and VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein).

"Think of ApoB as a count of the particles capable of entering artery walls and causing plaque. One ApoB is equal to one potentially harmful particle," he said.

Dr. Sudhir explained that two people can have the same LDL cholesterol level but very different numbers of cholesterol-carrying particles. The person with more particles will usually have a higher ApoB level and, potentially, a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

He added that ApoB often provides a more accurate assessment of heart disease risk than LDL cholesterol alone.

Despite growing evidence supporting ApoB, the test is still not widely used in routine clinical practice because it generally requires an additional blood test beyond the standard cholesterol panel, increasing both cost and inconvenience.

"Our study asked: Is it worth spending extra money to use ApoB instead of LDL to guide treatment intensification?" Kohli-Lynch said.

Dr. Sudhir suggested that ApoB testing should be considered for:

• people with diabetes,
• prediabetes,
• metabolic syndrome,
• obesity,
• elevated triglycerides,
• strong family history of heart disease.

New Cholesterol Guidelines

Earlier this year, the American Heart Association and 10 other medical organisations released updated guidelines recommending that many people begin cholesterol-lowering therapy at younger ages.

"This means it is increasingly important to accurately identify who would benefit most from intensive treatment," Kohli-Lynch said.

The updated guidelines also recommend measuring ApoB, particularly in people with high triglycerides, diabetes or in situations where LDL cholesterol levels may underestimate the number of harmful cholesterol-carrying particles.

Do you often forget where you kept your keys or glasses and worry that it could be a sign of Alzheimer's disease? While many people become more forgetful with age, doctors say that occasional memory lapses are a normal part of ageing. Alzheimer's disease, however, causes a different pattern of decline that affects memory, thinking and the ability to function in everyday life.

HealthandMe spoke to two neurologists who explained how to tell the difference between normal age-related forgetfulness and the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease.

"Many people worry when they start becoming more forgetful with age. While some changes in memory and thinking are a natural part of growing older, Alzheimer's disease causes a different pattern of decline that affects everyday life," said Dr. Rajneesh Kummar, Vice Chairman & Unit Head, Neurology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka.

Dr. Praveen Gupta, Chairman, MAIINS, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram, added, "Alzheimer's is not a normal part of ageing. It's a neurodegenerative disease that affects memory, thinking and how you function each day. Recognising the difference can help people get medical evaluation and treatment sooner."

Also read: India Gets Its First Alzheimer’s Drug: Know All About Eli Lilly’s Lormalzi

The experts advised that persistent memory concerns should not be ignored. If symptoms become more noticeable or begin affecting day-to-day functioning, a medical assessment can help identify the cause and guide appropriate treatment and support.

They outlined six key differences that can help distinguish normal ageing from Alzheimer's disease.

1. Occasional Forgetfulness vs Repeated Memory Loss

According to the doctors, it is common to occasionally misplace items, forget a name or an appointment, and remember the information later.

However, people with Alzheimer's disease may repeatedly forget recent events, conversations, appointments or newly learned information and may not recall them even after reminders.

2. Slower Thinking vs Difficulty With Everyday Tasks

Normal ageing may mean taking longer to learn new technology or complete routine tasks.

In Alzheimer's disease, people may struggle to manage bills, prepare meals, follow directions, learn to use a new phone or remember instructions given only moments earlier.

3. Misplacing Things vs Forgetting They Were Ever There

Occasionally losing keys or glasses is considered a normal part of ageing, and most people can usually retrace their steps and find them.

By contrast, people with Alzheimer's disease may not remember putting an item down or even recall recently getting or buying it.

Read More: Anti-Inflammatory Diet May Help Lower Dementia Risk, Even In Those Who Show Early Signs Of Alzheimer’s: Study

4. Temporary Confusion vs Disorientation

Older adults may occasionally lose track of the day or date but usually remember it shortly afterwards.

According to the doctors, Alzheimer's disease can cause confusion about time, dates and places. People may repeatedly ask the same questions or become disoriented, even in familiar surroundings.

5. Searching for Words vs Difficulty Communicating

Everyone experiences occasional "tip-of-the-tongue" moments.

With Alzheimer's disease, people may frequently lose their train of thought, repeat themselves, struggle to follow conversations or have difficulty finding the right words.

6. Remaining Independent vs Needing Increasing Support

The doctors said one of the biggest differences is that normal ageing generally does not prevent a person from living independently.

Alzheimer's disease, however, gradually affects a person's ability to carry out everyday activities, adapt to changes in routine and maintain self-care without assistance.

Bryan Johnson, the billionaire biohacker and longevity enthusiast, has been diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease called Autoimmune Gastritis (AIG).

Johnson is known for his radical longevity experiments, including measuring the biological age of his organs in an effort to reverse aging, injecting himself with ketamine, taking over 50 pills a day, undergoing fat transfers, and receiving blood transfusions from his teenage son.

In a recent post on X, he made the shocking announcement of his autoimmune conditions, which went undetected for years: Autoimmune Gastritis.

Calling it "bad news," Johnson wrote: "I have an autoimmune disease. My stomach is eating itself."

"2-5 per cent of people have this, too. Likely more, because it hides," he added.

According to Johnson, his stomach had been attacking itself without causing noticeable symptoms. The condition was only discovered in May.

Also read: Bryan Johnson Blames Sugary Cereals, Soda and Stress for His Autoimmune Disease; Shares Treatment Plan

The Early Warning Sign: Low Ferritin

Autoimmune Gastritis, a condition in which the immune system attacks the stomach's acid-producing cells, also impairs the absorption of iron and vitamin B12.

Johnson said one of the earliest signs of the condition was persistently low ferritin levels over the past 11 years despite not having anemia.

"We continually tried to raise my iron levels with food and supplementation, but nothing would work."

He said he followed a plant-based diet, trained intensely, used a sauna and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and took iron supplements, yet his iron levels remained low.

Ferritin stores the body's iron. Iron is essential for transporting oxygen and producing energy, and low iron levels can lead to fatigue, weakness, and dizziness.

Johnson said autoimmune gastritis is difficult to diagnose because its earliest clue is often overlooked.

"The earliest clue, low ferritin, is the one standard medicine waves through. Low iron stores get normalized and rarely investigated at all when anemia hasn't shown up yet. That blind spot is what hid mine for a decade."

While initially it wasn't clear why his iron levels were continuously dipping, after further testing, Johnson's team identified three interconnected issues.

Read More: Bryan Johnson Battles Autoimmune Gastritis: Which Parts Of His Longevity Guide Are Actually Worth Copying?

Autoimmune Gastritis was preventing normal iron absorption by damaging the stomach cells that produce acid. He also discovered autoimmune thyroid disease.

"The iron deficiency, the autoimmune gastritis driving it, and the autoimmune thyroid disease alongside it. Iron and thyroid feed each other both ways; low iron impairs the conversion of thyroid hormone into its active form, and an underactive thyroid impairs how the body uses iron," Johnson explained.

Iron Deficiency May Be More Common Than Many Realize

According to research published in JAMA Network Open, about one in four Americans may have inadequate iron intake or absorption.

As per the study of more than 8,000 Americans, 14 per cent of adults had absolute iron deficiency, reflecting depleted iron stores.

Even after excluding common causes such as anemia, pregnancy, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease, 11 per cent remained iron deficient. Another 15 per cent had functional iron deficiency, where iron levels appear normal but the body cannot use the mineral effectively.

How Bryan Johnson Is Managing The Condition

Since receiving the diagnosis, Johnson has begun iron infusions, which deliver a full dose of iron in a single treatment.

He said his team will continue routine monitoring of his ferritin and iron levels.

Johnson ended his post with a warning that hidden health conditions can go unnoticed for years.

"You too may have a lurking health issue that is undiagnosed and could increase in severity from unhealthy life choices, without your knowing… A gentle nudge that minding your health, no matter your situation in life, is a good decision-making."