Bleeding

Bleeding General Information

Bleeding Symptoms

The severity of this condition varies and demands from a mild local blood loss caused by a small injury to a massive hemorrhage. If the Bleeding has an external cause through a break in the skin, the main sign is the actual blood that comes from that open wound. Other symptoms of an external Bleeding could be: bruising, paleness, dizziness, shortness of breath, weakness, light-headedness after an injury, confusion, shock, rapid pulse, decreasing alertness, a heart rate that might be increased, clammy skin, or a low pressure of the blood. If the patient suffers from an internal hemorrhage, along some of these symptoms, he or she may present: swollen abdomen, signs of shock, or abdominal pain. The patient may also be cool when touched. If the blood is lost through a natural opening of the body, the signs of this condition are: presence of blood in the urine (having a ea-colored, red or pink appearance), in the vomit (when it looks like coffee-grounds and is bright-red), in the stool, that might appear as maroon, black or dark red, in the gastrointestinal tract and from the, from nose, rectum and vagina (it can occur after menopause or in the usual periods, when it is heavier). Hemorrhage usually becomes worrying when the volume of blood gets too low, causing hypovolemia or when the pressure of blood is too low, causing hypotension. When the loss of blood is massive, a person could loose his or hers consciousness or death could appear within minutes, even seconds, when the case is really serious. 

Bleeding Treatment

If the injury through which the blood lost is minor, there is no need for a medical intervention. But you must immediately seek medical help if you suspect internal Bleeding or shock, or if you can not control the Bleeding that might be caused by serious injuries. Contact medical attendance in the case that your wound might need to be closely and carefully cleaned because the dirt inside is not that easy to remove and if it may be necessary some stitches. If your injury is the result of an animal or human bite and if you have not made a tetanus immunization in the last six to ten years, call for emergency to 911. If the site of the injury got infected and it develops swelling, redness, discharge, severe pain, swollen lymph nodes, red streaks and fever that spread to other sites of the body, you must seek urgent specialized help because if you left it untreated, the injury could lead to forms of skin abscess to other adverse effects.

Usually, this is treated with antibiotics that are given orally. You could easily prevent Bleeding by keeping knives and any other sharp objects away from persons who can harm themselves, especially little children. Also, when using these kinds of objects, you must use a good and clear judgment. The complications can easily be prevented simply by staying up to date on your vaccinations, especially with the tetanus vaccine (immunization) that must be repeated after every ten years. Also, if the Bleeding is caused by minor grazes, cuts or scratches wash very well your own hands before touching the wound. Then, try to clean gently the cut and cover it with clean lint-free material and sterile dressing. If you can, try to raise the wound above the heart. If the Bleeding is severe, press the injury with your fingers or more surely with a pad in order to stop it. Before this, if you can, put on disposable gloves. This is very important if you want to avoid any infection or complications of the wound. The loss of blood can be controlled if the injury is well bandaged, but not very tight to avoid circulation of the blood being stopped. After, put a second bandage above. If the hemorrhage continues, and the blood comes through, do not remove the dressing! Just bandage again over the first one. In the case that the blood continues to seep through these two dressings, remove them and put a new fresh bandage, continuing applying pressure over the injury. If you suspect internal blood loss, medical care should be immediately called because this condition could become very rapidly really life-threatening. An exact medical intervention can rescue your life because they have the proper knowledge of what medications are needed; they can administrate intravenous fluids to minimize the loss of vital substances and can prepare the patient for a surgery, if needed. An endoscope may be necessary to detect exact damages. A series of other tests may be needed, because there can be other damages to nerves or tendons for example.