Indicators of Internal Bleeding

After earning his medical degree from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Dr. Richard Delacruz completed his residency in emergency medicine at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. Dr. Richard Delacruz is an emergency physician with the Titan Emergency Group, where he treats life-threatening conditions such as internal bleeding.

Traumatic accidents can damage internal organs, tissues, and blood vessels and cause internal bleeding. However, the severity of internal bleeding can be difficult to detect. By the time symptoms become visible, the injured person may have lost a dangerous amount of blood.

Symptoms of internal bleeding also vary depending on the location of the injury. For example, bleeding from a head injury may put pressure on the skull and brain, affecting cognitive functions such as speaking or writing. Vessel damage in the stomach or digestive organs may result in bloody stools. Excessive blood loss can trigger shock, loss of consciousness, or low blood pressure. While some types of internal bleeding can resolve on its own, people who notice behavioral or physical changes in the weeks following a serious accident should seek medical treatment.