Nose Bleeds

So, it doesn't happen very often but I noticed they occur after I have to squat for a bit. I just feel a rush of blood to my head then there is a delay I get up and next thing I feel is the need to grab the first piece of paper I can find.

Now the first thing people tell me is that it is because of the heat and it makes sense for the latest ones I've had as it is summer where I live but they don't occur at the hottest hours and I also have noticed they then to come in the same day I've had an especially stressful time a few hours after whatever situation caused my anxiety to go up happened, so I am starting to feel 'suspicious' if you know what I mean. I think it might be related to my anxiety, but I haven't heard of nosebleeds as a possible consequence.

Last time I had this happening was at work. I joined recently so I am still trying to prove myself. I was given extra hours this week extending my shifts. This put me into 10-11 hours shifts which were pretty hard on their own but that day in particular, I was getting frustrated because I missed an order (fortunately we managed to convince the customer to stay and compensated them with deserts), I hadn't done all the expected prep and I was being slower than expected to clean. With two big pots of meat being really hard to scrap. I was moping and was probably 10 minutes away from finishing when it happened. I gave them the "it's because of the heat, don't worry" explanation but they didn't seem to buy it, haha.

The time before that was also at work the day I cut myself for the second time and trying not to make it obvious as I had once previously cut myself to the point of needing a few stitches. I was afraid they would not trust me with a knife ever again and that is kind of a requirement if you are working as a kitchen hand. I had a bit less than a month since I joined that workplace. That night I woke up and bled again just as much but I had been stressed because the first bleeding was so bad I had to halt my work and take a break in the middle of service and I thought that was going to be another negative point about keeping me.

I am trying hard not to let my hypochondria get the best of me regarding this and you know how it is, once you start putting things together and click the idea starts getting stronger but I figured if nosebleed could be caused by anxiety you guys would probably be the best to tell me if any of you have it or if this really sounds like something else.

No, it is not a silly question why do I squat. Basically to store things after washing them for the old place I used to work. We tended to pile up some buckets and pots in lower racks. Because we were in the middle of service so it was putting things away and back to the cleaning station. So yeah, I wasn't really trying to reach the floor nor taking my time. My latest bleed was three days ago while I was moping and I was standing up. The pace there is quite slower in comparison to the other restaurant but to be fair I was trying to finish as soon as possible as the time as the co-workers with the key had to wait till I was done. So now that you mention it I think rushing might be playing a role here.

It doesn't happen very often. Usually, it is like 2 days of being prone to it and then nothing like that in months so the 'first' one always comes as a surprise and it is hard for me to find a pattern of what trigger them. I am honestly waiting for summer to pass to keep a close watch on it because if I have them when it is not hot then I definitely need to look something else up.

To be honest I mentioned it to my doctor last year when it happened at my last workplace but because it lasted a day and I hadn't had any more she didn't think much of it. I definitely should bring it up again just in case.

Another thing to mention is that I migrated into the place I live now so apparently it is a normal phase for some people to get nosebleeds when the heat is higher than what they are used to but... Mexico is not exactly kinder during their summers. I moved almost 7 years ago and these bleeds have happened just in the last few of them so that explanation just doesn't add up to me like to just turn the page.

I will bring up again with my doctor and will definitely let you guys know.

First of all. I want to thank you for all the insight and feedback. I feel I need to give you guys an update.

I went to the doctor and she was basically saying to keep on with the notes and not to worry unless it kept happening ridiculously often. She took my pressure and made routine questions. She also asked me to record where I felt the bleed if at the top back or middle and how long it lasted.

Natasha0717 said:

I know nosebleeds have a lot to do with dry air and enclosed, cramped, air-tight rooms. Hotel rooms with no open windows (I hate it when they have the windows that are just SEALED shut) - I've noticed my Dad gets nosebleeds when staying in hotels like that, and I wake up with a very dry nose, almost on the verge of getting a nosebleed. Cold weather/dry air with the cold weather, another culprit.

Click to expand...

I can definitely see that being a possible factor. the kitchen as the back room without windows seems like an excellent candidate.

Natasha0717 said:

The only other things I can think of would be having blood that is naturally too thin, mine is like that. Seriously, it looks like Kool-Aid. Or if your blood pressure gets out of whack - that could easily cause a nosebleed, and people with anxiety are known to have blood pressure spikes. One minute, your BP is perfectly normal like 120/80, and then at rest it's 100/70, and then you get that one scary thought and BOOM - 170/110. That's all pressure, everywhere in your body, including the small vessels near your nose

Click to expand...

I so far have had positive blood readings at the doctor so I have no clue if my blood is like that and spikes briefly enough to cause this. I definitely would like to look into this.

Zeesi said:

If you do get another nosebleed at work, especially since you work around food where things are supposed to be sanitary, just quietly deal with it, downplay it, and try not to talk about it at all with your co-workers.

Click to expand...

Oh believe me I tried. Fortunately enough I never had them dealing with food as they happened during cleaning up. However, now my boss knows as it happened while he was around. I was very stressed at the time because he was a bit drunk and hurrying me. After the bleeding ceased he wanted to have a good talk about what was the cause. So the cat is out of the bag.

He reassured me pretty much that my job was safe and that he could give me less hours if I felt I was over working (then he remembered about me moving out shortly and offered me extra hours, haha) so at least the fear of me being replaced has been lifted. I only bled a bit a few days after but I think that was just the pressure of the heat (I was next to the dishwasher) hitting me back as it was a lot more brief than the usual ones. Admittedly I did have some concerning matter but nothing immediate. Anyway, since then I haven't had another incident. I have close to two weeks nosebleed free and autumn is reaching us so hopefully it will just go away if it is heat or be under control now that the worst things that kept me stressed are being slowly addressed.