Picked His Nose Too Deeply, Ends Badly

China: A resident of Xianyang in the northwest of the country was rushed to the hospital suffering from severe and life-threatening bleeding caused by picking his nose too deeply.

Reports in the local news indicated that the man had a habit of obsessively picking his nose. On the day he was taken to the hospital, the picking damaged a lateral artery in the nose near the nostrils, causing continuous bleeding. "Everything I tried to do to stop the bleeding didn't help," he later recounted, referring to the tissues and toilet paper he used to try to stop the bleeding.

After doctors performed a scan of his nose, it was confirmed that the artery had indeed burst, and he was taken for emergency surgery that saved him.

A tear in an artery near the nose can be dangerous for several main reasons:

1. Heavy bleeding and difficulty in stopping it – The nose and facial area are rich in blood vessels, especially in the area known as "The Danger Triangle," which includes the nose, the upper lip, and the area between them. If an artery tears, the bleeding can be strong and prolonged, and difficult to stop without appropriate medical treatment.

2. Risk of brain infection – The nasal area is directly connected to blood vessels that drain into the brain's veins. If an infection develops due to an arterial tear (for example, from a bacterial infection in an open wound), the bacteria can enter the brain and cause life-threatening infections, such as Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis.

3. High blood pressure and uncontrolled bleeding – People suffering from high blood pressure are at an increased risk of tears in small arteries, including those in the nasal area. In such cases, the bleeding can be more severe and even lead to significant blood loss if not treated quickly.

4. Risk of loss of consciousness or hypovolemic shock – If the bleeding is strong and prolonged, severe blood loss may occur, which can cause dizziness, fainting, a sharp drop in blood pressure, and even a life-threatening condition known as Hypovolemic Shock.

5. Damage to other vital blood vessels – The facial arteries are interconnected within a complex network, so a tear in an artery near the nose can affect other blood vessels in the area, including arteries supplying blood to the brain and eyes. In severe cases, it could lead to serious tissue damage or even pose a danger to the brain's blood supply.

What to do in case of strong nose bleeding or suspected arterial tear?

• Press the area with a gauze pad or clean cloth to stop the bleeding.
• Tilt the head slightly forward to prevent swallowing blood.
• Apply direct pressure to the bleeding area for 10–15 minutes.
• If the bleeding doesn't stop, or if it's very strong, seek immediate medical attention.