When a blood vessel is damaged, bleeding occurs inside the body. This condition is known as hemorrhage or internal bleeding in Birmingham, AL's clinics. Minor vessel damages near the surface of the skin are common. They result in minor bruising and red specks on the skin. However, large hemorrhages result in serious complications which could become life-threatening.

Commonly, hemorrhage is caused by traumatic injuries. In 2019, there were 48 million injuries only in the US due to motor vehicle accidents.

Symptoms of Internal Bleeding in Birmingham, AL:

As it is evident that internal bleeding is extremely dangerous since it is not visible. You can't ignore a cut or a broken bone but you can easily overlook bleeding that is occurring deep inside your body.

Blood is required by every organ, if you experience blood loss due to internal bleeding you may experience the following symptoms:

• Exhaustion
• Chest pain and shortness of breath
• Numbness in the body along with weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Dark brown or black diarrhea
• Blood in urine
• Bruising
• Severe abdominal pain
• Low blood pressure
• Muscle pain
• Confusion and disorientation
• Vision problems

A traumatic injury can cause severe hemorrhaging, symptoms may include:

• Increased heart rate
• Extremely low blood pressure
• Sweaty and wet skin that feels cold
• Loss of consciousness
• Blood vomiting
• Organ failure
• No or very little urine
• Blood leakage from eyes, nose, or ears
• Seizure
• Coma

Common Causes of Internal Bleeding:

Internal bleeding can be caused by anything that damages the blood vessels. Minor situations involve small ruptures for which the body develops a clot to stop the bleeding.

In case of severe injuries, bleeding cannot be stopped with clots which leads to leakage of blood in surrounding organs. Hemorrhaging can also occur due to weak walls of the blood vessels or problems in the blood clotting process.

Minor to moderate internal bleeding could be due to the following:

• Smoking or excessive use of alcohol
• Excessive dehydration
• Long-term high blood pressure
• Clotting conditions in genetics
• Diabetes
• Blood-thinning medicines
• Minor injury
• Steroids
• Diet medicines
• Anti-depressants
• Anti-clotting medicines
• Antibiotics
• Cancer
• Gastrointestinal conditions
• Liver conditions
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Heart attack

Severe internal bleeding could be due to the following causes:

• Broken bones
• Surgery
• Aneurysm
• Embolism
• Traumatic injuries such as car accidents, explosions, and bullet wounds, etc.
• Ectopic pregnancy

Diagnosing Internal Bleeding:

Diagnosing internal bleeding is very complex because it's challenging to even locate the source of bleeding. Unless you find the source you cannot stop the bleeding. To diagnose internal bleeding, the doctor will take complete medical history along with the symptoms you might be experiencing and a physical examination.

Usually, if the doctor suspects internal bleeding, the patients are immediately required to take a CT scan or MRI scan to locate the source and extent of internal bleeding. Other tests such as blood and urine tests are taken to assist in diagnosing the accurate cause. Angiography is performed to visualize the blood vessels. ECG and x-rays are also performed to analyze any possible damages to the heart.

Treatment for Internal Bleeding:

Minor internal bleeding cases can be treated with some rest and hydration. The clot appears on the damaged area to limit bleeding and facilitate healing. Excess blood is reabsorbed by the tissues. For moderate to severe cases, the patients are given blood, plasma, platelets, and vitamin K intravenously. Fluids that are rich in electrolytes are also given to internal bleeding patients.

There is a high risk of death in hemorrhaging. Once the patient stabilizes the doctor focus on locating the source and stopping the hemorrhage. In severe cases, surgery may be required to drain excess blood and repair the ruptured blood vessels.

Complications:

If the condition remains untreated, it can have devastating impacts. Severe internal bleeding may lead to coma, seizures, organ failure, and even death. The condition is extremely fatal and requires immediate medical assistance. Early diagnosis and accurate treatment reduce the risks of complexity and increase the chances for complete recovery.

In case you suffer from an accident, you should immediately seek medical help. You may not be aware that your body is experiencing internal bleeding.

Get in Touch with a Qualified Doctor:

Immediate medical attention is highly significant for all internal bleeding cases. A small hemorrhage can take your life. It has been seen that patients with severe internal bleeding can lose their life within 6 hours of hospital admission.

Even if you suspect internal bleeding, it is critical to go to the hospital and get a complete medical checkup to rule out any complications. If you or your loved ones have suffered from any internal bleeding in Birmingham, AL, our experienced doctors will provide you an effective treatment to reduce your symptoms and locate the source of the bleed immediately.