Haemorrhage

What is haemorrhage?

Haemorrhage is excessive bleeding that may pose a health risk because of the volume of blood lost or the location of the bleeding. Haemorrhage is an escape of blood from blood vessel. It is a large flow of blood from a damaged blood vessels.

Haemorrhoids are clumps of blood vessels of the rectum. The haemorrhoid veins are located in the lowest area of the rectum just above the anus. Sometimes, they swell when the veins enlarge and their walls becomes stretched, thin and irritated by passing bowel movement.

In the medical community the term is reserved for significant or severe bleeding, which may be life – threatening. Bleeding can occur from any part of the body, such as the mouth, ears and eyes. But can also occur from trauma such as a deep cut. Taking blood thinning medications, such as Coumadin or heparin, can increase the risk of bleeding.

Classification of haemorrhage

• Internal haemorrhage: It is a loss of blood that occurs from the vascular system into a body cavity or space. It is a serious medical emergency and the extent of severity depends on the bleeding rate and the location of bleeding.
• External haemorrhage: It refers to the lost of blood outside the body.

Types of haemorrhage

1. Post operative haemorrhage; after surgery
2. Post partum haemorrhage; from child birth
3. Arterial haemorrhage; from an artery.
4. Venous haemorrhage; from a vein
5. Capillary haemorrhage; from a capillary
6. Primary haemorrhage; if bleeding immediately follows an injury.
7. Reactionary haemorrhage; delayed bleeding after injury
8. Secondary haemorrhage; delayed bleeding from sepsis
9. Hematuria; blood in the urine from urinary bleeding
10. Hemoptysis; coughing up blood from the lungs
11. Hematemesis; bleeding in the stomach.

Causes of haemorrhage

1. Hypertension; is often a contributing factor in brain haemorrhage which can cause stroke.
2. Uncontrolled diabetes; can also weaken blood vessels, especially in the eyes, this is called retinopathy.
3. Use of medications that affect blooding clotting, including aspirin, can make haemorrhage more likely to occur
4. Bleeding disorder can also spark haemorrhage among them are; haemophilia, an inherited disorder that prevents the blood from clotting.
5. Other times, vessels simply wear out with age.

How can you spot an haemorrhage

Visible blood is the most obvious sign, but sometimes the only way to know an haemorrhage as occur inside the body is when it causes symptoms of an illness such as stroke. In the case of a brain haemorrhage, depending on where the bleeding occurring, symptoms can include headache, lost of function on one side of the body, vision changes, weakness, difficulty in speaking, swallowing, reading or writing, balance problems, decrease alertness, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion and drowsiness or coma.

How is haemorrhage diagnosed

Blood test and spinal fluid test can show evidence of haemorrhage.

Scanning is an important imaging test use to evaluate the brain and other tissues to see if haemorrhage has occurred.

Foods to eat

1. Food high in fibres e.g. vegetable, fruits, high fibres cereal
2. Meat, fish, shell fish and poultry
3. Drinking of plenty water
4. Intake of balanced diet
5. Intake of diet rich in iron.

Foods to avoid

1. Avoid too much spicy food, the spicy food may cause problem to your digestive system and cause stomach upset which can lead to diarrhoea. Diarrhoea can make the haemorrhage issue get worst.
2. Avoid low fibre e.g. white rice. White pasta, baked foods.