Ep 442 - Episataxis: "I Have a Client Who . . ." Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner

A client with frequent nosebleeds works with a massage therapist on TMJ pain, and something unexpected happens: she goes from 3-4 bleeds a week, to about one. The therapist has referred her to get more information about her sinus health, which is a good idea. But is there anything else they can be doing?

Resources: 

Pocket Pathology: https://www.abmp.com/abmp-pocket-pathology-app

Association of Hypertension With the Risk and Severity of Epistaxis | Bleeding and Transfusion | JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery | JAMA Network (no date). Available at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2770570 (Accessed: 28 May 2024).

Durham, J. and Wassell, R. (2011) 'Recent Advancements in Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs)', Reviews in Pain, 5(1), pp. 18-25. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/204946371100500104.

Epistaxis and Hypertension: Reviewing a Complex Relationship (no date) Medscape. Available at: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/epistaxis-and-hypertension-reviewing-complex-relationship-2023a1000i7t (Accessed: 28 May 2024).

'Epistaxis: Practice Essentials, Anatomy, Pathophysiology' (2024). Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/863220-overview?&icd=login_success_email_match_fpf (Accessed: 28 May 2024).

Karegeannes, M. (2018) Red Flags, Treating TMJ. Available at: https://www.treatingtmj.com/symptoms/red-flags/ (Accessed: 28 May 2024).

Nose Bleeds at Night: 5 Causes (2017) Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/nose-bleeds-at-night (Accessed: 28 May 2024).

Nosebleeds (Epistaxis): Causes, Treatment & Prevention (no date) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13464-nosebleed-epistaxis (Accessed: 29 May 2024).

Nosebleeds: When It's Time to Get Medical Attention (2021) Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Available at: https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/nosebleeds-when-its-time-get-medical-attention (Accessed: 28 May 2024).

Image of Kiesselbach Plexus

Credit: FirstAdmiral, CC-SA-3.0

Image of a person with tissue in their nose trying to stop a nose bleed.

Episode Hosts

Meet our hosts

  • Ruth Werner Photo

    Ruth Werner

    Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology (available at booksofdiscovery.com), now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is available at ruthwerner.com or [email protected].