Which risk factor is associated with an increased likelihood of epistaxis?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is linked to an increased likelihood of epistaxis, or nosebleeds, because it can cause more pressure in the delicate blood vessels of the nasal mucosa. When these vessels become engorged due to elevated blood pressure, they are more susceptible to rupture, especially in response to other factors like trauma, dry air, or nasal irritations. This can lead to the phenomenon of nosebleeds, which are more common among individuals with uncontrolled or severe hypertension.

While conditions like low calcium levels, heart disease, and anemia can have various effects on health, they do not directly contribute to the risk of epistaxis in the same way that high blood pressure does. Low calcium levels do not typically affect vascular integrity, heart disease may involve other complications, and anemia primarily relates to hemoglobin levels rather than vascular bleeding tendencies. Thus, hypertension is the most relevant risk factor in this context.