Itâs happened before. An otherwise healthy 29-year-old mother of three made news in 2014 when she died of the flu and, according to data from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 3,000 and 49,000 Americans die of the flu each year.
Other causes of nosebleeds include: 1  Acute sinusitis. 2  Allergies. 3  Aspirin use. 4  Bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia. 5  Blood thinners (anticoagulants), such as warfarin and heparin. 6  Chemical irritants, such as ammonia. 7  Chronic sinusitis. 8  Cocaine use.
It's a different story with allergies. They're caused by an overactive immune system. For some reason, your body mistakes harmless things, such as dust or pollen, for germs and attacks them. When that happens, your body releases chemicals such as histamine, just as it does when fighting a cold. This can cause a swelling in the passageways of your nose, and you'll start sneezing and coughing. Unlike colds, allergies aren't contagious, though some people may inherit a tendency to get them.