What it means
The loss of blood from the vessels. External bleeding can be seen, as from a wound. Internal bleeding happens inside the body and may show only through signs such as bruising, swelling, black stools, blood in urine or vomit, or a falling blood pressure. Heavy bleeding is called hemorrhageHEM-uh-rijA large loss of blood from a blood vessel, inside the body or out of it.hem/o blood-rrhage bursting forthFull entry . Clients on anticoagulantan-tee-koh-AG-yoo-luntA drug that slows the blood's ability to form clots.anti- againstcoagul/o clotting-ant an agent that doesFull entry s or with a low plateletPLAYT-litA tiny cell fragment in the blood that sticks together at a wound to help form a clot.Full entry count bleed more easily.
For the nurse
Bleeding precautions include a soft toothbrush, an electric razor, no IM injections when they can be avoided, and holding pressure longer after needle sticks. Watch for and report a rising pulse, falling blood pressure, new bruising or blood in urine or stool.
In a chart
"Small amount of bleeding at the IV site; pressure held for 5 minutes, bleeding stopped."
At a glance
| Spanish | sangrado, hemorragia |
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Related terms
hemorrhage
A large loss of blood from a blood vessel, inside the body or out of it.
platelet
A tiny cell fragment in the blood that sticks together at a wound to help form a clot.
anticoagulant
A drug that slows the blood's ability to form clots.
clotting factor
Any of the proteins in blood plasma that work together in a chain to form a blood clot.