Bleeding is the process of the outpouring of blood from blood vessels, which occurs due to violations of the integrity of the shell of their walls. Specialists distinguish different degrees of blood loss (for example, traumatic, non-traumatic and other types). The destruction of blood vessels can occur under the influence of a particular pathology or as a result of injury. Based on the type of lesions, certain first-aid measures are required, which should alleviate the condition of the patient before the arrival of the team of doctors.
It is worthwhile to understand the features of bleeding in more detail. According to some signs, it is possible to determine in which organ the damage occurred. For example, a person can understand the severity of blood loss by the color and speed of the leaking fluid.
Classification
There are many signs by which you can determine the type of bleeding. If we consider the area of localization in which blood is poured out, then in this case blood loss can be:
- Outdoor. In this situation, there is an outpouring directly into the external environment. Fluid is released from a wounded surface that may result from an open fracture or damage to soft tissue. This kind of degree of blood loss is considered quite dangerous. In this case, blood is released from the lumen of the hollow organs, which in one way or another have a message with the outside world. For example, internal hemorrhages can occur in the intestines, bladder, stomach, and other organs.
- Hidden. In this case, the blood does not pour out, but directly into the body cavity in the place where there is no communication with the external environment. The latent form of bleeding can include articular, pericardial, cerebral and others.
Type of blood loss depending on the affected blood vessel
Based on this indicator, several types of bleeding are also distinguished. Blood loss can be:
- Arterial. In this case, the walls of the arteries are destroyed. If we talk about the features of this manifestation, then in this case a pulsating, rather strong outpouring of bright scarlet liquid will be observed. This condition is very dangerous because there is a very rapid blood loss. Against this background, a serious threat to the life of the victim may appear.
- Venous. With such a blood loss, the integrity of the venous walls is violated. In this case, the blood flows a little slower, and its hue will be much darker, cherry color.
- Capillary. In this case, the capillaries are damaged. Blood is released very slowly. By and large, it just drips from the affected area.
- Parenchymal As a rule, this can happen with damage to the spleen, lung, kidney, liver and other organs. Often bleeding develops against the background of damage to the cavernous tissues. If we talk about external signs, they are hardly noticeable. In this case, the person is more likely to experience standard symptoms of worsened well-being. Patients complain of weakness, dizziness, fainting, and loss of consciousness. In this case, a filamentous pulse and the development of tachycardia are observed. The pressure may drop sharply, or it will be impossible to determine.
- Mixed. In this case, several types of vessels are damaged at once, therefore, general symptoms do not exist.
Severity
If we talk about the types of hemorrhages depending on the condition of the person, then it is worth highlighting several groups:
- 1st degree. With such bleeding, a slight change in hemodynamics is observed. A person feels satisfactory, but he has a slightly increased pulse. Blood pressure will be normal. Hemoglobin in this state usually exceeds 100 g / l. If capillaroscopy is performed, then in this case a rather rapid hematogenous blood flow will be observed.
- 2nd degree. In this case, we are talking about more pronounced bleeding. A person has a condition that is commonly called the average degree of blood loss 1. This means that the victim complains of lethargy, dizziness, and pallor of the skin. In this case, blood pressure drops to 90 mmHg. In some cases, vomiting may occur. If capillaroscopy is performed, the result will show a pale color. The number of capillaries at this stage is significantly reduced.
- 3rd degree. This condition is considered a severe degree of blood loss, which is quite easy to determine by the pale skin, on which drops of cold sweat appear. The mucous membranes will also be significantly lighter than usual. Patients often yawn and drink a lot of water. The pulse becomes frequent, threadlike. Blood pressure may drop to 60 mmHg. Hemoglobin counts fall to 50 g / l. If capillaroscopy is performed, a pale background will be noted. People experience frequent bouts of vomiting and fainting.
- 4th degree. In this case, quite a lot of blood loss occurs, the victim periodically loses consciousness for a long time. This condition refers to the degree of acute blood loss. Pulse and pressure may not be felt at all. If capillaroscopy is performed, the color will be gray. This stage is considered very dangerous.
Origin
Based on this indicator, several degrees of state are also distinguished. Bleeding can be traumatic or pathological. In turn, with a loss of fluid against the background of a trauma, blood loss can be:
- Primary. In this case, we are talking about a condition that occurs immediately after an injury.
- Early and secondary. In this case, the pathology develops in the process or after the operation.
- Late secondary. As a rule, the appearance of bloody discharge is associated with the appearance of suppuration on the vascular walls.
Causes
If we talk about the factors that lead to different degrees of blood loss, then first of all, of course, mechanical damage comes to mind. However, in addition to this, a similar condition can develop against the background of:
- Vascular pathologies.
- Diseases of the circulatory system.
- Some common ailments in which the patient suffers from vitamin deficiency or intoxication.
- Diseases of the internal organs (for example, hemorrhage can occur against the background of pulmonary tuberculosis, oncology, benign neoplasms and many other conditions).
Symptomatology
When considering the definition of the degree of hemorrhage, it is worth paying attention to a number of standard symptoms of bleeding. Regardless of whether a person suffers from external or internal damage, he will experience weakness and general malaise, frequent dizziness, increased thirst, suffocation, a feeling of lack of air, and a rapid heartbeat. If severe arterial bleeding has occurred, then in this case the victim may have a high degree of shock.
With blood loss, additional external signs are also noted. In this case, in addition to blanching of the skin and the appearance of cold sweat, it is worth paying attention to shortness of breath, disturbances in the urethra, a sharp decrease in blood pressure, and confusion.
Signs of bleeding of the internal type
In such a situation, the condition of the victim may manifest itself differently depending on the location of the problem. If bleeding occurs in the lung, then a bright red liquid will be released. Blood is directed through the oral cavity. It is worth noting the foamy structure of the liquid.
If bleeding has developed in the stomach, then in this case, this problem can be determined by brown blood. With blood loss in the intestines, feces become black. In this case, their consistency is more like tar.
If damage to the kidneys and urinary tract has occurred, then the urine becomes quite pronounced red. Blood clots may also appear in the fluid.
Arterial
In this case, signs of severe blood loss indicate an extremely dangerous condition of the victim. The score can go for minutes. This is because fluid loss occurs very quickly.
If we talk about emergency assistance, which is performed in such situations, then you need to act very quickly. An injured person can lose a huge amount of blood in less than three minutes. If damage to a large artery occurs, that is, only a few minutes to at least somehow stabilize the patient's condition. Otherwise, he will die quickly. First comes a deep coma, and then death.
In order to prevent this, it is necessary to strongly squeeze the vessel under the affected area. If the blood does not stop, then in this case, a vein is crushed, which is located just above the visible wound. If the outflow of fluid has slowed, then it is necessary to immediately treat the wound with an antiseptic or hydrogen peroxide. After that, a gauze dressing is applied to the affected area.
Useful Tips
If the bleeding does not stop during these manipulations, one can only hope that the ambulance arrives on time. Otherwise, the victim will no longer be able to help.
There are also several doctor's recommendations that can help in an emergency. For example, if bleeding of a deep vein has occurred, then a small wound can be pressed with a swab or a dense napkin, richly saturated with hydrogen peroxide. After that, a tight pressure bandage is applied to the resulting “lotion”.
If no effect is observed, then a harness is allowed.
First aid for capillary bleeding
In the classification of blood loss by severity, this type of lesion is considered the most harmless. However, this does not mean that the affected area should be ignored. Although in this case we are talking about a slight loss of fluid, there is always a risk of getting an infection. Therefore, with capillary bleeding, it is also recommended to treat the affected area with hydrogen peroxide. After that, clean gauze should be applied to the wound site. You can lay cotton wool on top and bandage the wound. In some situations, using a bandage or a large patch is sufficient.
Finally
You should also always remember that some people have low blood coagulation. This means that even a slight scratch can lead to quite a long blood loss. In addition, even receiving a microscopic injury in a public place, there is a risk of contracting many dangerous diseases.
Therefore, do not be too careless about your health. It’s best to always have hydrogen peroxide on hand. In case of severe injuries, do not waste time. You need to immediately contact an ambulance and take all measures to try to stop the blood loss before the arrival of specialists.