Internal bleeding

From ArticleWorld

Internal Bleeding is a medical condition characterized by a bleeding inside the body. Except for the minor case of ecchymosis (bruises), internal bleeding is extremely dangerous and should be treated as severe medical emergencies.

Causes

Internal bleeding has various causes, but the most common ones are blood vessel rupture and organ ruptures. Major blood vessel ruptures happen due to increase of blood pressure associated with physical impacts or pressure against a bone. Minor blood vessel ruptures can appear for various reasons, including a severe hypertension or a direct physical shock. Organ ruptures appear commonly in car or plane accidents, because of a very quick deceleration from high speeds.

Internal bleeding can also appear in the evolution of certain diseases, the most known case being the disease called by the Ebola virus.

These render internal bleeding very dangerous. Accumulation of blood may compress organs and cause dysfunctions. Some internal bleedings stop spontaneously, but those that don't and aren't treated, can lead to hemorrhagic shock and death. Treating internal bleedings is almost impossible outside a hospital.

Signs and symptoms

Identification of internal bleeding is very difficult outside a hospital. Since there are no specific external signs, it is hard even for trained persons to recognize internal bleeding without equipment.

However, internal bleeding does present some symptoms -- the symptoms of a hypovolemic shock. These included elevated pulse, diminished blood pressure and skin turning pale. Any deformity, guarding or swelling inside the chest or abdominal cavity may suggest an internal bleeding.

First aid and treatment

There is not much to do as a first aid in case of internal bleeding. As soon as symptoms of a hypovolemic shock appear, call for help. Do not try to rub the victim or place him in a position where he feels pain, because this may lead to further compression of organs.

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