Internal bleeding is bleeding that remains in the body, that is, it is internal and not visible from the outside. They are extremely dangerous, which is why the doctor must be consulted immediately at the slightest sign of internal bleeding. Severe internal bleeding can lead to circulatory problems, respiratory distress and even death if left untreated.
What is internal bleeding?
Once an organ causing the bleeding is found, surgical procedures are used to stop the bleeding. Internal bleeding occurs whenever there is bleeding that does not leak outward but remains within the body. Hemorrhage is defined by the leakage of blood from the bloodstream or circulation. Both the vessels of the systemic circulation and the vessels of the pulmonary circulation can be affected by bleeding. Where this blood exits is irrelevant to the definition of internal bleeding. For internal hemorrhage, the two criteria of blood leaking in general and the leaked blood remaining inside the body must be present. Blood loss caused by internal bleeding can quickly become critical, depending on the severity of the bleeding. People have an average of five to six liters of blood. If they lose more than 1.5 liters of it, the first symptoms set in, such as general weakness, dizziness and increased breathing rate. The affected person is often frightened and realizes for himself that something is wrong. However, since the bleeding is not visible externally, many patients do not notice the cause of the symptoms. If more than two liters of blood are lost, severe confusion, increased dizziness, and clouding of consciousness occur. The patient eventually loses consciousness due to internal bleeding.
Causes
Internal bleeding can have a variety of causes. Among the most common causes are serious injuries to the internal organs, which can be caused by traffic accidents or other serious accidents, for example. Tumor diseases can also be responsible for the affected organ starting to bleed. Internal bleeding is also caused in some cases by improper handling of anticoagulants such as aspirin. This occurs, for example, if a patient has taken too large a dose of these drugs or if he or she belongs to a risk group with hereditary blood-clotting disorders that are exacerbated by such drugs.
Diseases with this symptom
- Head injuries
- Nasal fracture
- Splenic rupture
- Muscle fiber tear
- Luxation
- Cerebral hemorrhage
Diagnosis and course
Internal bleeding can be recognized by blood in the stool and urine or vomiting blood. Vomit also sometimes resembles coffee grounds. The other physical symptoms of internal bleeding are similar to the symptoms of anemia. However, unlike anemia, they occur suddenly and worsen rapidly depending on the degree of bleeding. Symptoms include: severe dizziness, a strong feeling of coldness in the limbs, reduced urine flow, severe drowsiness, and in severe cases, clouding of consciousness to the point of unconsciousness. Anyone who experiences these symptoms of internal bleeding must seek immediate medical attention.
Complications
Internal bleeding describes the leakage of blood inside the body. Depending on the location and amount, various complications and consequences result. Blood loss of 1.5 liters results in panic symptoms and a feeling of dizziness, as well as weakness. From two liters it can lead to fainting. Bleeding into the body tissues due to trauma is recognizable as a bruise or hematoma. These usually hurt a lot, but in most cases they are quite harmless and disappear again after a few days to weeks. If the bruises are larger, they can easily become infected and blood clots can form that can remain permanently in the tissue. Very rarely, the bruise is so large that it presses on blood vessels and constricts them. If this happens in the area of muscles, it can lead to the so-called compartment syndrome, an increased pressure develops in the area of the muscle chambers. This can lead to severe pain and even to the death of muscle tissue. The muscles subsequently scar and the joints stiffen. Other typical internal hemorrhages involve gastrointestinal bleeding in the area of the gastrointestinal tract.In this case, massive blood loss often occurs in gastric ulcers. In the worst case, this can lead to hypovolemic shock, which is characterized by a drop in blood pressure and an increased heart rate. This usually leads to death if left untreated. Chronic gastrointestinal bleeding usually also results in anemia.
When should you see a doctor?
Internal bleeding can occur in varying degrees of severity, so medical treatment may be needed. However, very often internal bleeding occurs completely unnoticed. Even minor cracks in the gastric mucosa can cause such bleeding. However, a visit to the doctor is unnecessary, because such small bleedings heal on their own. Treatment or taking appropriate medication is not necessary. The situation is different, however, when it comes to internal bleeding due to an underlying disease. Even more severe bleeding does not heal on its own, so a visit to the doctor becomes inevitable. Anyone who forgoes a visit to the doctor at this point must reckon with serious complications. It is not uncommon for affected individuals to suffer from severe dizziness, nausea and stabbing pain. At the latest when the symptoms mentioned occur, a visit to the doctor should not be put on the back burner. In the worst case, there is even a danger to life if treatment by a doctor is not received. Thus, if the above-mentioned complications occur suddenly and without any apparent reason, then a visit to the doctor is highly recommended. Only early treatment can prevent serious consequential damage.
Treatment and therapy
To stop internal bleeding professionally, its cause must be known. So the doctor will first determine where the bleeding occurred. Once the organ causing the bleeding is found, surgical measures are used to stop the bleeding. The patient will receive iron infusions to make up for the iron deficiency caused by the blood loss. Depending on the severity of the blood loss caused by the internal bleeding, he may also need a blood transfusion. Patients suffering from internal bleeding must be observed in the hospital for several days to rule out the possibility that the bleeding will recur and that the blood loss will cause circulatory or respiratory problems.
Outlook and prognosis
In internal bleeding, the patient’s prognosis depends on the severity of the bleeding and its cause. A rough distinction is made between small but recurrent and massive, acute internal bleeding. The former form occurs, for example, in diseases that gradually damage the internal organs, such as stomach or intestinal cancer. The internal bleeding is initially very small, but it occurs with increasing frequency. In the long term, the affected patient may develop anemia and, depending on the organ affected, may have other symptoms. Since the underlying disease is usually not recognized and treated by this alone, symptoms initially worsen. As the disease progresses, severe internal bleeding may also occur – with all the potential complications. Initially, internal bleeding results in blood loss. Often, they are not noticed immediately. In the worst case, the internal wound can no longer be closed in time and the affected person bleeds to death. Before that, depending on the origin of an internal hemorrhage, severe pain, unconsciousness, hematemesis and significant cardiovascular complications may occur. Such internal bleeding occurs, for example, when organs are severely damaged or as a result of injuries. The earlier internal bleeding can be detected and treated, the better the patient’s outlook.
Prevention
To prevent internal bleeding, anyone suffering from blood clotting disorders should completely avoid anticoagulants. They must also be especially careful not to injure themselves. Strong impacts and the like can already cause internal bleeding in them. Patients who have suffered from an iron deficiency for a long time should also be checked for internal bleeding. In this way, they prevent more severe internal bleeding.
What you can do yourself
In the event of internal bleeding, a doctor must be consulted immediately. This is a dangerous condition for the body that can only be treated by a doctor.In the worst case, the internal bleeding can lead to anemia and eventually death. Therefore, no direct self-help is possible for this symptom. The physician must first stop the internal bleeding, and surgical interventions are also an option. Depending on the type of internal bleeding, a blood transfusion may also be necessary in some cases. In most cases, the affected person must remain in the hospital for a few days afterwards to ensure that the internal bleeding does not recur. Whether the treatment of internal bleeding is successful or not depends very much on the cause of the bleeding. To prevent internal bleeding, people should not take anticoagulant medications if they have blood clotting disorders. This can increase internal bleeding because the blood cannot clot fast enough. Likewise, these people must keep in mind that even minor injuries and accidents can lead to severe internal bleeding. If a patient is suffering from an iron deficiency, this may be a sign of internal bleeding. This condition must be investigated immediately to prevent major bleeding.
