Mark Kline, an ENT Specialist at Frederick Breathe Free, has highlighted the impact of dry air and delicate blood vessels in the nasal passages as primary causes of winter nosebleeds. He advises individuals experiencing recurrent cases to seek medical examination. This statement was shared on Instagram.
“Dry sinuses, dry nasal passages especially during the wintertime are a common cause of nosebleeds,” said Kline, according to Instagram. “People have the house fully heated and it just drains the moisture out of the air. In the very front of your nasal passages is an area called Liddle’s area that can easily bleed. If you have a recurrent nosebleed, that’s a pretty easy thing to do have it checked out.”
A peer-reviewed study published by Wiley Online Library in The Laryngoscope examined the seasonal distribution of epistaxis and reported a significant increase in nosebleeds during periods of low humidity, particularly in winter. The research indicates that dry air desiccates the nasal mucosa, especially in the anterior nasal septum (Little’s area), leading to microvascular ruptures and contributing to mucosal inflammation, which is a risk factor for sinus infections. This suggests that environmental dryness increases epistaxis and may predispose individuals to rhinosinusitis due to impaired mucosal defense.
A 2016 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives demonstrated that indoor air quality, including humidity levels, significantly affects respiratory health. Low humidity, common in heated indoor spaces, leads to desiccation of the nasal mucosa, reduced mucociliary clearance, and increased susceptibility to upper respiratory infections, including acute and chronic sinusitis. Researchers recommend maintaining indoor humidity between 40% and 60% to help prevent mucosal irritation and related complications.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sinusitis affects approximately one in eight adults annually in the United States. It is often triggered or worsened by environmental factors such as dry air, allergens, and infections. Sinusitis may begin with inflammation of the nasal passages, which can obstruct sinus drainage and lead to infection. Managing air moisture levels and treating nasal dryness early may help prevent escalation from nasal irritation to sinusitis.
Kline is a former U.S. Navy search and rescue instructor who transitioned to medicine after his military service. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Maryland and a Master’s degree in health science from George Washington University, where he became a certified physician assistant in 1995. He spent 17 years practicing emergency medicine and trauma in Maryland and was twice deployed to Iraq as an Army reservist, providing care to U.S. troops, coalition forces, and civilians. In addition to trauma care, Kline has contributed to urgent care, occupational medicine, and medical documentation standards for the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. He currently resides in Damascus, Maryland with his family.
Frederick Breathe Free is an ENT practice affiliated with National Breathe Free that offers treatments tailored for allergies, sinus complications, and various ear, nose, and throat ailments. Their services include innovative sinus treatments such as balloon sinuplasty and comprehensive allergy management.
