What is bleeding?
- Bleeding is the loss of blood.
- It can be external, like when you get a cut or wound or internal, like when you have an injury to an internal organ.Blood loss from bleeding tissue can also be apparent when blood exits through a natural opening in the body, such as the:
- mouth
- vagina
- rectum
- nose
Causes
A variety of incidents or conditions can cause bleeding. Possible causes include:
Traumatic Bleeding
- An injury can cause traumatic bleeding. Traumatic injuries vary in their severity.
- Common types of traumatic injury include:
- abrasions (scrapes) that don’t penetrate too far below the skin
- hematoma or bruises
- lacerations (cuts)
- puncture wounds from items like needles, nails, or knives
- crushing injuries
- gunshot wounds
Medical Conditions
There are also some medical conditions that can cause bleeding.
- Bleeding due to a medical condition is less common than traumatic bleeding.
- Conditions that can cause bleeding include:
- thrombocytopenia, low blood platelet count
- von Willebrand disease
- vitamin K deficiency
- brain trauma
- colon diverticulosis
- lung cancer
- acute bronchitis
- hemophilia
- leukemia
- liver disease
- menorrhagia – heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
Medicine
- Some medicines and certain treatments can increase your chances of bleeding, or even cause bleeding.
- Your doctor will warn you about this when they first prescribe the therapy, they’ll guide you as well on what to do in case of the bleeding.
Medications that may be responsible for bleeding include: - blood thinners
- antibiotics, when used on a long-term basis
- radiation therapy
- aspirin and other NSAIDs
Treatment
- A person can bleed to death in 5 minutes.
- Bystanders may be able to save a life before emergency personnel can arrive.
- One should opt for first aid right away.
- Use the following to put pressure onto the wound:
- a clean cloth
- bandages
- clothing
- your hands (after applying protective gloves)
- Maintain medium pressure until the bleeding has slowed and stops.
Medical emergency
- You will need emergency medical care if:
- bleeding is caused by a serious injury
- bleeding can’t be controlled
- bleeding is internal