Cocaine Nose Rupture
Cocaine nosebleeds are caused by constant snoring or repeated nose-blowing of the drug. Cocaine, also a highly addictive drug, is often inhaled in various ways. The act of snoring when cocaine is inhaled is often the result of the drug staying in the user’s nasal air passages. Snoring can also be caused by disrupted sleep caused by the drug.
The nose is lined with delicate tissue and mucous membrane. These tissues trap tiny particles of mucous that enter the nose through the mouth and nasal passages, causing inflammation of the lining. When the lining of the nose is irritated mucous leaks from the nose and causes a runny, dark-colored nose discharge. Cocaine users often have bloodshot eyes as well as swollen lymph nodes near the nose.
When the nose is repeatedly abused, small pieces of damaged tissue along the inner linings of the nose can grow, resulting in pus formation and even swelling. These nose bleeds may cause additional damage to the sinus membranes and the surrounding tissues. If they are not arrested, they can progress into large pus pockets. Other complications that may develop include irritable nasal syndrome, rhinitis, temporary facial paralysis, temporary blindness, and even deafness or decreased hearing.
What You Should Know
The symptoms of a nosebleed usually clear up after several days. However, sometimes, the sores may heal without medical attention, but will frequently reoccur for weeks or months later. During this time, the person may experience severe itching or tenderness around the area of the nose. Some people have been known to experience tingling or numbness in the fingers or palms as well as nausea or dizziness. If not treated, the damage may continue and the person may even have difficulty breathing.
The effects of nosebleeds due to cocaine abuse are a serious matter. If not properly treated, the mucous membranes in the nose can be damaged. The mucous membranes are the part of the nose that filters and humidifies the air you breathe. When the nose becomes damaged due to repeated abuse, blood vessels in the nose begin to enlarge and stretch, eventually reducing the effectiveness of the filtering system. Eventually, the blood vessels may burst and the person will lose all feeling in the nose.
The nose becomes unable to filter air and therefore the blood vessels burst causing major damage to the lining of the blood vessels and the lining of the mucous membrane. Without treatment, the damage will worsen over time and may result in death. Even if the nose heals on its own, continued abuse of the drug can cause significant damage to the nose, nasal passages, and other tissues of the head. The best way to avoid this is to abstain from intranasal cocaine use.