What You Need to Know About Hemorrhage

Hemorrhage is another word for bleeding. It most often refers to severe bleeding, though not all hemorrhages are serious.

A hemorrhage can be internal, such as in the brain or abdomen, or external, from a cut or other wound to the skin.

This article will discuss the types, symptoms, causes, and treatment options for hemorrhages.

Gloved person placing a pressure bandage on an injured person

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What Is a Hemorrhage?

Hemorrhages occur when blood escapes through damaged blood vessels. They can happen almost anywhere in the body because the circulatory system delivers blood to every part. Commonly, the term applies to sudden and severe blood loss. Hemorrhages can be internal or external and are typically divided into three types:

  • Arterial hemorrhage (arteries): A severe medical emergency
  • Venous hemorrhage (veins): Severe and life-threatening
  • Capillary hemorrhage (capillaries): Often less serious

The most serious level of hemorrhage is hemorrhagic shock, a medical emergency that can quickly turn fatal. Hemorrhagic shock is when the body loses so much blood that the heart cannot keep up, and vital systems begin failing. It can begin when you lose about 20% of your blood volume.

What Are the Symptoms of a Hemorrhage?

External hemorrhage is usually very easy to spot, and you can quickly identify the source of the bleeding. Internal hemorrhage can be difficult to diagnose, even for medical professionals.

If an internal injury or illness is causing hemorrhaging, the symptoms depend on where the bleeding is. Some of the symptoms, which can also be symptoms of shock, are:

  • Dizziness and nausea
  • Vomiting blood
  • Changes in mental state
  • Seizures
  • Swelling
  • Pale, gray, clammy, or sweaty skin
  • Shortness of breath
  • Extreme thirst
  • Thunderclap headache: an extremely severe headache that peaks within the first minute, usually due to bleeding next to the brain or spinal cord

What Causes a Hemorrhage?

Hemorrhages can involve slight bleeding from a shaving nick, a bruise due to bleeding beneath the skin (bruises appear bluish because the skin affects the way the blood looks), and events like trauma, stroke, or aneurysm (a bulge in an artery).

Other than trauma, there are health conditions that increase the risk of serious hemorrhage. Death from hemorrhage can happen quickly if the blood loss is rapid. These conditions include:

Postpartum hemorrhage is severe bleeding after the vaginal delivery of a child. It can be a serious complication and is the leading cause of mortality in childbirth.

In Americans below 40, hemorrhage from trauma, such as car accidents or gunshot wounds, is the leading cause of death.

When Is Bleeding a Sign of an Emergency?

Go to the ER or call 911 if you think there may be internal bleeding or you see signs of shock like rapid breathing, pale skin, confusion, or loss of consciousness.

You should get medical help for external hemorrhaging if:

  • Bleeding doesn't stop within about 10 minutes of applying steady pressure
  • The wound may need stitches
  • A tourniquet has been applied
  • The wound contains debris that cannot be easily cleaned
  • Bleeding is due to serious injury

How Are Hemorrhages Treated?

Treatment of a hemorrhage varies according to its severity and location. First aid for minor external bleeding includes:

  • Cleaning the affected area with soap and water or the cleanest cloth available that will not stick to the wound.
  • Keeping direct pressure on the wound using a clean dressing. In most cases, the pressure will help minor bleeding stop.

In cases of severe external bleeding:

  • Apply direct pressure to the site.
  • If necessary, use a tourniquet, which can save a person's life.
  • Call 911 and arrange to transport the person to a hospital quickly.

A tourniquet should be tied 2 inches above the injury but never over a joint. Use whatever material is available and tie a simple knot. Insert a stick or rod into the knot to twist and tighten it and maintain pressure.

When to Seek Medical Care


See a healthcare provider if you see signs of infection or the injury carries a risk of infection, including:

  • Redness
  • Pain
  • The wound oozes pus or fluid
  • Swollen glands
  • Fever
  • Red streaks appear from the wound in the direction of the heart
  • Injury is from a bite, whether human or animal
  • Tetanus vaccination is not up to date (within the past five to 10 years)

Internal Bleeding

Internal bleeding cannot be helped by first aid. In hospital and emergency settings, healthcare professionals will assess the nature and severity of the bleeding. Their goal will be to supply the body with sufficient oxygen while working to control the bleeding and limit tissue damage.

A person with severe hemorrhaging may need intravenous (IV) fluids or a blood transfusion. They may need surgery to stop the bleeding. In less severe cases of external hemorrhage, stitches or surgical glue may be used to close a wound.

The “lethal triad” of hemorrhage from trauma, which can quickly result in death, includes:

Summary

Hemorrhage is a term for any type of bleeding, but it's most commonly associated with severe bleeding. External hemorrhages from a cut or wound can be minor or serious. Minor wounds may respond to pressure and stop bleeding, but steady, significant bleeding requires urgent medical attention.

Internal hemorrhages cannot be treated by first aid and are medical emergencies. They can be hidden but quickly lead to irreversible damage and death, so don't take any chances. Anyone who is hemorrhaging severely should be taken straight to the emergency room.

11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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bio picture LeBrun

By Nancy LeBrun
In addition to her extensive health and wellness writing, Nancy has written about many general interest topics for publications as diverse as Newsweek, Teen Vogue, abcnews.com, and Craftsmanship Quarterly. She has authored a book about documentary filmmaking, a screenplay about a lost civil rights hero, and ghostwritten several memoirs.