Vascular Diseases—Bleeding

Also called: Hematoma, Hemorrhage

Bleeding is the loss of blood. It can happen outside or inside the body. You may bleed when you get a cut or other wound. Bleeding can also be due to an injury to internal organs.

Sometimes bleeding can cause other problems. A bruise is bleeding under the skin. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in the brain. Other bleeding, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, coughing up blood, or vaginal bleeding, can be a symptom of a disease.

Normally, when you bleed, your blood forms clots to stop the bleeding. Severe bleeding may require first aid or a trip to the emergency room. If you have a bleeding disorder, your blood does not form clots normally.

• Bleeding (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Bleeding gums (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Bleeding into the skin (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Intraventricular hemorrhage of the newborn (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage (Medical Encyclopedia)

The vascular system is the body’s network of blood vessels. It includes the arteries, veins and capillaries that carry blood to and from the heart. Problems of the vascular system are common and can be serious. Arteries can become thick and stiff, a problem called atherosclerosis. Blood clots can clog vessels and block blood flow to the heart or brain. Weakened blood vessels can burst, causing bleeding inside the body.

You are more likely to have vascular disease as you get older. Other factors that make vascular disease more likely include

• Family history of vascular or heart diseases
• Pregnancy
• Illness or injury
• Long periods of sitting or standing still
• Any condition that affects the heart and blood vessels, such as diabetes or high cholesterol
• Smoking
• Obesity

Losing weight, eating healthy foods, being active and not smoking can help vascular disease. Other treatments include medicines and surgery.

• Aortic arch syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Arterial embolism (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Arteriogram (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Cerebral angiography (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Duplex ultrasound (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Venous insufficiency (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Venous ulcers — self-care (Medical Encyclopedia)