Download Article
Medically-verified ways to identify and treat internal bleeding
Download Article
External bleeding is easy to spot: you know when you get a cut or an injury that bleeds on the outside of your body. Internal bleeding, on the other hand, is a little more difficult to diagnose, and it can be tough to tell when you’re bleeding on the inside. Fortunately, there are a list of symptoms that you can watch out for to tell whether or not you are bleeding internally. In this article, we’ll go over all of the symptoms of internal bleeding, as well as how a doctor might diagnose you and what causes internal bleeding. And remember: if you believe you are having a medical emergency, call emergency services right away.
Things You Should Know
- Symptoms of internal bleeding include cramping, swelling, bruising, blood in vomit, urine, or stool, and dizziness.
- The most common cause of internal bleeding is trauma or injury. You may also have internal bleeding due to blood disorders or GI issues.
- To diagnose your internal bleeding, your doctor will start with a physical exam. They may also order a CT scan or an angiography.
- Treatment of internal bleeding depends on how severe it is. For mild cases, you may just need rest. For severe cases, you may need surgery.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Warnings
- Internal bleeding can be very dangerous and potentially fatal if not treated quickly and properly. If you suspect you are bleeding internally, it is always safer to call an ambulance immediately. [27] X Research sourceThanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://utswmed.org/medblog/gi-bleeding-children/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3414076/
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000045.htm
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000045.htm
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21654-hemorrhage
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000045.htm
- ↑ https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/gi-bleeding
- ↑ https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/types-of-stroke/hemorrhagic-strokes-bleeds
- ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10807079/
- ↑ https://publications.aap.org/pediatricsinreview/article-abstract/42/10/546/181198/Gastrointestinal-Bleeds?redirectedFrom=fulltext
- ↑ https://www.jeffersonhealth.org/your-health/living-well/there-is-blood-in-my-urine-is-it-serious
- ↑ https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/gastrointestinal-bleeding
- ↑ https://www.osmosis.org/answers/blunt-trauma
- ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5878028/
- ↑ https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/haematology/services/haemophilia/bleeding-disorders/psychology/
- ↑ https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/aortic-aneurysm/what-is-an-aneurysm
- ↑ https://www.rwjbh.org/treatment-care/heart-and-vascular-care/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/
- ↑ https://www.stroke.org.uk/stroke/managing-risk/blood-thinning-medication
- ↑ https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-complications/ectopic-pregnancy/
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1538783622112067
- ↑ https://www.dignityhealth.org/articles/what-is-a-physical-exam-and-what-can-you-expect
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/computed-tomography-ct-scan
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/angiography/what-happens/
- ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/bleeding
- ↑ https://www.cochrane.org/CD013295/INJ_what-best-medication-stop-bleeding-those-having-non-emergency-hip-or-knee-surgery
- ↑ https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/services/neuroscience/brain-skull-base-care/brain-hemorrhage/
- ↑ https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/resources/learn-first-aid/bleeding-life-threatening-internal?srsltid=AfmBOoq32-QcIivBS8fAFuinsf92FFGtCfFiy8nuSRy_-ml5-BTzIq33
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 99,028 times.
Advertisement