Most of us have had a cut in our lives with bleeding, but the majority of people have (fortunately) never had such a cut that required an ER visit. Mild bleeding stops either on its own (without you having to do anything) or with a few minutes of pressure. Examples include a slight scrape, a cut while shaving or pricking your finger on a thorn. Injuries with mild bleeding typically only involve washing well with water and soap, and a small Band Aid. Moderate bleeding is due to a more significant injury, with bleeding that slows or stops with pressure, but starts again if you remove pressure. It may also soak through several bandages, but the key here is that it still does stop with pressure. People with this amount of bleeding have typically either injured a blood vessel, or are taking blood thinners such as aspirin or warfarin. Examples of moderate bleeding can include a nosebleed that starts back as soon as you take off pressure, a cut to the scalp (often from a fall) or other deeper cut to the body. In many cases, pressure for 10 minutes or so to the area can stop the bleeding, in which case a bandage is sufficient. Of note: If you do use a pressure bandage that is tight or squeezing, do not leave it in a single position for 30 minutes or longer, especially on a child or elderly person. Doing so can damage the blood flow to tissues beyond the bandage. Severe bleeding is the most dangerous and may be pumping, does not stop nor slow with pressure or soaks through one bandage after another. This amount of bleeding is usually due to injury to either an artery (blood vessels under the greatest amount of pressure) or large vein, and requires emergency treatment.
Bleeding (Hemorrhage)
Bleeding easily or excessively is a severe symptom that needs prompt medical attention because it relates to many diagnoses. Leukemia is but one of several severe diseases that can cause unexplained bleeding. Other instances of bleeding that are cause for concern include nosebleeds, bruising easily, bleeding gums, blood in the stool or urine, and vaginal or rectal bleeding.
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Discovery Health answeredPhysicians in ancient Greece and Rome responded to the problem of hemorrhaging by introducing a technique of ligating, or tying off, blood vessels during surgery. Oddly, their techniques were apparently forgotten for centuries. During those times, blood vessels were cauterized instead, using boiling oils or hot irons.
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Parkland Medical Center answeredSee All 2 AnswersHemorrhaging, or excessive bleeding, occurs with a number of disorders that cause an inability to form blood clots. Hemorrhaging occurs when the blood is unable to form clots to stop bleeding after an injury to blood vessels. Hemorrhaging may occur from even a slight injury in people who have these disorders. There are differing levels of the inability to form blood clots.
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Parkland Medical Center answered
Hemorrhaging is caused by the blood's inability to form clots. Normally, when blood vessels are injured and bleed, the blood is able to react by having blood platelets stick together and form a clot that stops the bleeding. When blood platelets are unable to do this in a normal way, excessive bleeding may occur even from a slight injury.
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Parkland Medical Center answered
Hemorrhaging caused by the disorders that prevent the formation of blood clots can affect the body in many ways. How the body is affected may depend on the type of disorder and the extent to which the body is able to form blood clots that stop bleeding. Bleeding can occur externally or internally. Excessive external bleeding may cause unexplained bruises and bleeding on the skin, excessive nosebleeds, and too much bleeding from a small injury. Excessive internal bleeding may cause bleeding in the internal organs, joints, and brain, causing muscle and joint pain and headaches.
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Parkland Medical Center answered
Regular exercise may be beneficial if you have a hemorrhaging disorder. The joints may be particularly vulnerable to excessive bleeding. Non-contact activities such as walking or swimming can help to protect joints.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredYes, heredity can play a role in hemorrhaging or, as they are more commonly called, blood-clotting disorders. The most common inherited clotting disorders are hemophilia A and hemophilia B. Clotting disorders can be acquired and caused by vitamin K deficiency, liver disease and inappropriate dosing of anticoagulation with warfarin or heparin.