Difference Between Bruising and Internal Bleeding

What is Bruising?

Bruising is a type of injury that takes place when damaged blood present in the blood capillaries starts causing movement. The movement caused in the blood capillaries can occur due to injury or some ongoing process caused by a disease. It is caused due the formation of blood clots in the skin. The three causes of bruising are injury, ongoing anti-clotting medication, medical disorders etc.

/10

Health Quiz

Test your knowledge about topics related to health

1 / 10

What is the best way to maintain a healthy weight?

2 / 10

What is the main cause of hypertension (high blood pressure)?

3 / 10

What is the best way to lower your risk of getting cancer?

4 / 10

What is the best way to improve mental health?

5 / 10

What is the recommended daily fiber intake for an adult?

6 / 10

What is the best way to prevent the onset of depression?

7 / 10

Many children with asthma experience more severe reactions when they breathe ___________________.

8 / 10

What is the most common cause of a headache?

9 / 10

Which organ is responsible for producing insulin in the body?

10 / 10

What is the leading cause of death worldwide?

Your score is

0%

In many cases, a bruise only causes pain when pressure is applied to it, but in severe cases, a bruise can cause excruciating pain even by a simple movement. Some people with blood clotting medical disorders experience bruising. The inflammatory response after the occurrence of a bruise is not frequent or is not observed in many cases.

A minor bruise heals on its own. If a bruise stays longer than usual, it can cause serious complications, especially for athletes. The pigmentation caused when a body part is bruised can stay longer even if the bruise is healed. The blood will continue to pass through the injured part if proper treatment is not sought for bruising. People that lack Vitamin K are most likely to get easily bruised.

What is Internal Bleeding?

Internal bleeding occurs when blood gushes out of body part(s) due to serious injury. When internal bleeding is caused, there is less or more blood loss from the blood vessels. Internal bleeding causes injury to the body’s organs. The most common internal bleeding causes are road accidents. Many medical conditions like stomach ulcers and diseases related to the liver can also cause internal bleeding.

 Internal bleeding from the head, lungs, and heart trauma can result in more blood loss. Internal bleeding can be caused due to two types of traumas, namely blunt and penetrating.

 In blunt trauma, a body part collides against an object at an incredible speed. In penetrating trauma, a sharp, foreign object falls on a body part, causing a hole in multiple blood vessels. A gunshot wound or a knife stab causes penetrating trauma.

A victim of internal bleeding will experience pain insidiously as the haemorrhage increases. A CT scan is performed to determine the exact place of injury, or in case of bleeding occurring in the stomach, an endoscopy is performed.  The treatment involves infusion of Vitamin K, blood or platelets intravenously, depending on the severity.

Difference Between Bruising and Internal Bleeding

  1. Bruising is comparatively less painful and severe. Internal bleeding is more painful and severe.
  2. Bruising is less life-threatening. If improper treatment is provided, internal bleeding can result in loss of life.
  3. In bruising, blood is moved out of blood vessels. In internal bleeding, blood is lost from blood vessels, and the person bleeds internally.
  4. The treatment for bruising is as simple as applying ice to the bruise. The treatment required for internal bleeding is complicated, including the intravenous infusion of Vitamin K, platelets etc.
  5.  The diagnosis of bruising is easy; a purple-black appearance is formed on the skin where the trauma is experienced. A CT scan and other imaging processes are used to diagnose internal bleeding.

Comparison Between Bruising and Internal Bleeding

Parameters Of ComparisonBruisingInternal Bleeding
MeaningThe injury in which blood is passed out of blood vessels.The injury when blood leaks out of blood vessels or organs.
CausesBumping into an object, Hemophilia A, low platelet count.Road accident, stomach ulcer, a broken bone.
AppearanceVisibleNot visible
SubtypesSubcutaneous, intramuscular, periosteal etc.Head trauma, bleeding around the heart etc.
SeverityRelatively lessRelatively more

Want to save this article for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own articles box!

References
  1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.05220.x
  2. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8971656/
One request?

I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *